masenqo
Sign in to saveThe masenqo (; Tigrinya: ጭራ-ዋጣ (ዋጣ), also known as masinko or mesenko, is a single-stringed bowed lute commonly found in the musical traditions of Eritrea and Ethiopia. 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 masenqo requires considerable virtuosity, as azmaris accompany themselves while singing.
Key facts
- Instrument.name
- Masenqo
- Instrument.image
- COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Langhalsluit met 1 snaar TMnr 2997-19a.jpg
- Instrument.image_capt
- A traditional Ethiopian masinko or chira-wata
- Instrument.background
- string
- Instrument.classification
- chordophone
- Instrument.hornbostel_sachs
- 321.311
- Instrument.hornbostel_sachs_desc
- spike bowed lute
- Instrument.related
- gusle (Dinaric Alps) igil (Tuvan) krar (Horn of Africa)
via Wikipedia infobox
Described at
Ethiopia, Federal Democratic Republic of | Grove Music
"Ethiopia, Federal Democratic Republic of" published on by Oxford University Press.
doi.org →Link to a page describing this subject · 4,610 chars · not written by Vinony
Wikidata facts
- Image
- Azmari in a tejbeit.jpg
Show 3 more facts
- Hornbostel-Sachs classification
- 321.311
- Commons category
- Masenqo
- described at URL
- doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.42063
Sources (1)
via Wikidata · CC0
~1 min read
Article
3 sectionsContents
- Construction and design
- See also
- References
The masenqo (; Tigrinya: ጭራ-ዋጣ (ዋጣ), also known as masinko or mesenko, is a single-stringed bowed lute commonly found in the musical traditions of Eritrea and Ethiopia. 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 masenqo requires considerable virtuosity, as azmaris accompany themselves while singing.
==Construction and design== 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.