(A pair of karkabas, fair trade. Gnawa metal castanets.) The karkabas, a musical instrument intricately tied to Gnawa music, a traditional genre originating from Morocco.…
Karkabas: the Trance-Inducing Metal Castanets
Category: Articles
Biography of Composer, Researcher and Multi-Instrumentalist Tito Rinesi
Tito Rinesi is a composer and researcher specializing in ethnic and traditional music from various countries. He is a multi-instrumentalist and singer, proficient in playing…
Guimbri: The Formidable Gnawa Bass Lute of North Africa
(headline image: Hssan Hakmoun in Lanzarote, Spain, in 2000 playing guimbri – Photo by Angel Romero) The guimbri is a traditional musical instrument intrinsically linked…
The Clarinet, a Wind Instrument with a Rich Timbre and a Wide Tonal Palette
(headline image: MVRVMV Bb clarinet, ebony) The clarinet is a versatile wind instrument that has been a staple in various genres of music for centuries.…
Guzheng, the Enchanting Ancient Zither of China
(headline image: FFYUEEE professional rosewood guzheng, 163Cm) The guzheng (ancient zheng), or simply zheng, is a traditional Chinese zither. This venerable instrument, with its 21–27…
Latin Jazz: A Thrilling Fusion of Rhythms and Styles
Latin jazz is an enthralling genre of music that combines primarily the rhythms and percussion instruments of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, and a…
The Enchanting Sounds of the Middle Eastern Tembur
(headline image: Ali Doğan Gönültaş playing tembur at Polirítmia 2023 – Photo by Susana Godoy) The tembur, also known as tembûr and tanbur, is a…
The Bansuri a Beautiful Indian Flute with a Rich History
The bansuri, also known as the Indian flute, is a musical instrument that has a long and rich history in Indian classical music. The bansuri…
Tar, the Cherished National Instrument of Azerbaijan
(headline image; Professor Ramiz Guliyev – Photograph by Mamed Rahimov © 2010 by M.Rahimov/Ministry of Culture and Tourism) The Azerbaijani tar is a long-necked plucked…
The Tar, an Iconic Long-Necked Persian Lute
(Persian tar by Afshari ET-202) The tar, derived from the Persian word for string, is a long-necked instrument belonging to the lute family. It is…