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Naxos World Music

Venancio Mbande Orchestra: Timbila Ta Venancio

$12.99

Details

Composer
VENANCIO MBANDE ORCH.
Artist
Venancio Mbande Orchestra
Format
CD
Label
Naxos World Music
Released
Jan 01, 2002
Catalog #
76016-2
UPC
636943701621

About

Timbila is a xylophone-like instrument and the name of the rhythmic music that comes from the Chopi people of rural Mozambique. One of the last living masters of the timbila drum orchestra is Venancio Mbande. He is 70 years old, lives in a small village without electricity or modern amenities, but his skills as an ensemble leader, musician and master of the timbila tradition are undeniable. Timbila is a music that dates back hundreds of years (first documented by a Portuguese missionary in 1560). The foremost characteristic of timbila is the instrument. The Chopi people's mbila, singular for timbila, is a unique instrument in the music of the Bantus of the Southern Africa continent. The xylophone and marimba are the Western variants of this remarkable instrument, born much later than it's timbila ancestor. Made from the wood of the Mwenje tree, the timbila comes in different types depending on their tone. It uses heptatonian tuning which means that an octave is divided into seven roughly equal intervals. The music itself is a vibrant mesh of rhythms and whistles, dancing and drumming. A group orchestral suite, Ngodo, is usually renewed about every two years. In general, the topics of the lyrics deal with current issues. But it always starts with an introduction by a solo timbila. For this live field recording session, Mbande's orchestra took it's customary places in the shade of two big trees. In front of them was an open square for the dancers. Like the visual splendor of South Africa's Zulu dances, it is a remarkable feat to witness and hear. On the whole, Ngodo resembles music theatre and ballet. However, the leading role in this colourful form of art is the music.

Tracklist 8 tracks

  1. 1 M'tsitso (introduction) 03:21
    Track
    1
    Title
    M'tsitso (introduction)
    Duration
    03:21
    Composer
    Traditional
  2. 2 M'tsitso 04:54
    Track
    2
    Title
    M'tsitso
    Duration
    04:54
    Composer
    Venancio Mbande
  3. 3 M'ngeniso 05:53
    Track
    3
    Title
    M'ngeniso
    Duration
    05:53
    Composer
    Venancio Mbande
  4. 4 Mwemiso 08:55
    Track
    4
    Title
    Mwemiso
    Duration
    08:55
    Composer
    Venancio Mbande
  5. 5 Mchumyo Ou Mdhano 05:21
    Track
    5
    Title
    Mchumyo Ou Mdhano
    Duration
    05:21
    Composer
    Venancio Mbande
  6. 6 Chibhudhu 08:08
    Track
    6
    Title
    Chibhudhu
    Duration
    08:08
    Composer
    Venancio Mbande
  7. 7 Mzeno 13:11
    Track
    7
    Title
    Mzeno
    Duration
    13:11
    Composer
    Venancio Mbande
  8. 8 Kuhawuzela 06:06
    Track
    8
    Title
    Kuhawuzela
    Duration
    06:06
    Composer
    Traditional