v.a. - Krar & Masinko [ethiopia]

Krar Collective

       The krar or kraar is a five- or six-stringed bowl-shaped lyre from Eritrea and Ethiopia. The instrument is tuned to a pentatonic scale. A modern krar may be amplified, much in the same way as an electric guitar or violin.

        A chordophone, the krar is usually decorated with wood, cloth and beads. Its five or six strings determine the available pitches. The instrument's tone depends on the musician's playing technique: bowing, strumming or plucking. If plucked, the instrument will produce a soft tone. Strumming, on the other hand, will yield a harmonious pulsation. The instrument is often played by musician-singers called azmari. It usually accompanies love songs and secular songs.

Masinko tutorial

        The masinko (also spelled mesenqo, mesenko, mesenko, mesinko, or mesinqo) is a single-stringed bowed lute commonly found in the musical traditions of Ethiopia and Eritrea. As with the krar, this instrument is used by Ethiopian minstrels called azmaris ("singer" in Amharic) . Although it functions in a purely accompaniment capacity in songs, the masinko requires considerable virtuosity, as azmaris accompany themselves while singing.

     The square- or diamond-shaped resonator is made of four small wooden boards glued together, then covered with a stretched parchment or rawhide. The single string is typically made of horse hair, and passes over a bridge. The instrument is tuned by means of a large tuning peg to fit the range of the singer's voice. It may be bowed by either the right or left hand, and the non-bow hand sits lightly on top of the upper part of the string.

01 - Derbe Zenebe - Esti leguaz (5:18)

02 - Maritu Legesse - Akale Webe (4:50)

03 - Gash Abera Mola - Yameral Agere (5:17)

04 - Samuel Kassa - Techno Be'Masinko (3:27)

05 - Gigi & Yeshi Demelash - Bati [Reggaetopia - single] (5:59)

06 - Mahmoud Ahmed & Gossaye Tesfaye - Adera (5:52)

07 - Eskedar Amsalu - Bayeshelegn (7:15)

08 - Rasselas - Tizita (ft. Bezuayehu Demissie) (4:11)

09 - Gigi - Tew Maneh (4:54)

10 - Gigi - Kiraren Bikagnew (5:37)

11 - Asnaketch Worku - Arada (3:01)

12 - Mary Armeday - Enem Lefelefkugn Melageruw Sema (3:39)

13 - Mahmoud Ahmed - Anchiye Hodiye (4:36)

14 - Endris - Masinko (2:36)