Song of Mbira (1985) by Bubowski
Genre: Ethnic-International
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Description:
One of the first tunes I did with my (then) new ESQ-1. Inspired by a couple of mbira sounds, this track uses the onboard ESQ-1 sequencer and only 8 total voices of polyphony. The mbira is the proper name for what is known in the US as a Kalimba (a brand name) or the African thumb piano.
Hardware:
Ensoniq ESQ-1Yamaha REX50 (fx)
Software:
ESQ-1 onboard sequencerYou must be registered and logged-in to comment.
Ed Hannifin
I have a friend who, along with being a monster bass
player, has some real African mbiras, including some big
ones that he puts in gourds for resonance...He would love
this, and I'm going to make sure he hears it...
Man, first vote and everything...
It's so melodic/harmonic at the beginning, and there's the
nice break to the chant sort of thing...Ear candy...always
engaging the interest...
Real nice.
mandolinquent
Great to use those unusual repetitive patterns, changing
subtly all the time. Fun... sort of half-old, half-new.
Ed Hannifin
I keep coming back to this. For some reason, it really grabs
me. I'd download, fav and vote again if I could...
Hope you do some more pieces with the mbira sound, maybe
combined with other instruments, timbres, lines,
percussion...it's not like we've worn out the guitar in all these
years...this sound could be played with in a lot of ways...
Ed
Tom Atwood
Thanks, Ejh, for the forum post about this wondrous
piece. Perfect combination of rhythms and subtle shifting.
Nice build and fade and 1/4 tone raises at the end, like a
warbly tape. Maybe it is?
very excellent, Bubowski. (inexplicably low score so far. I'll
raise it a bit for you.)
9-9-10-9
jiguma
Thanks Ejh for the pointer - great ambient stuff here -
have raised the votes further. How did I miss this?
Beautifully rhythmic and melodic, and so different.
Thanks Bubowski
ChrisSly
I also like the detuned effect at the end. Love the old
Ensoniq's from the 80's. They had such nice, crisp sounds.
Totally cool piece.
listen
Also glad this was posted by Ejh to share.
All around wonderful...
This is great stuff. Quite a nice ethnic sound. Very mellow
and primal. Flowing polyphony. Wonderful percussion
patterns.
tatin
I also had an esq-1 and one of the crystal sound cartridges. Brings back
memories. The melody and rhythm are outstanding. Maybe you could
arrange this for string quartet sounds, might be fun and sound great.
Bubowski
Never thought about a string quartet...what a great idea! I think I have a midi version (not ESQ-1 Sysex) around somewhere so I'll have to mess with it. Thanks for the idea!
onesweetworld
I had to follow the flames on your page. Now I see why this smokin'.
World music rocks my socks. I like when it gets really intense midway
through the song. Couldn't you see this playing on Survivor? ohhhh I
could.
Pongo
You should do another one like this
richard13
If you ever do more of this type of delightful music, could you make it at least twice as long please? Very nice.