{"id":1321,"date":"2022-12-08T08:40:05","date_gmt":"2022-12-08T08:40:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.handmadesound.com\/la-kalimba-dagli-schiavi-neri-damerica-ai-grandi-kalimbisti-di-oggi\/"},"modified":"2024-12-04T07:25:43","modified_gmt":"2024-12-04T07:25:43","slug":"kalimba-history-sound-characteristics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.handmadesound.com\/en\/kalimba-history-sound-characteristics\/","title":{"rendered":"The Kalimba: From African American Slaves to the Great Kalimba Players of Today"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In slave-holding America, it was common to find in the quarters of any plantation’s slaves an object made of wood or gourd, hollowed out and fitted with metal tines on its surface: the kalimba<\/strong> (or malinba). This rudimentary percussion musical instrument<\/strong> was played by slaves during their few moments of leisure or, at the landowner’s request, in the manor house to entertain the family or guests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the abolition of slavery, the memory of this instrument remained, serving as a symbol of resilience and identity. Today, in the United States, we find the most renowned kalimba players<\/strong> who have driven the evolution of this instrument to its current form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The West first encountered the kalimba<\/strong> during that dark period in American history. Speaking of kalimba players, the most famous and influential is Mark Holdaway<\/strong>, an American from Arizona, who, together with Sharon Eaton<\/strong>, developed the chromatic kalimba<\/strong>. This intricate and advanced version of the classic kalimba brought previously unheard musical possibilities and sounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other notable figures include Yohei Kisanuki<\/strong> from Japan and Italy\u2019s own Nick Strippoli<\/strong> from Rome. Remaining in Italy, we should mention the globally renowned and best-selling Italian kalimba lines, such as those by Giuseppe Verrico<\/strong> and Danilo Raimondo<\/strong>. The former is known for the Verrico Cajon Kalimba<\/strong>, and the latter for the Danilo Raimondo Kalimba<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aforementioned chromatic kalimba<\/strong>, designed by Mark Holdaway and Sharon Eaton<\/strong>, is manufactured by Hugh Tracey<\/strong>. Most kalimbas favor artisanal craftsmanship, but even mass-produced models are of very high quality. The only kalimba entirely handmade<\/strong>, with no industrial or mass production, is the chromatic kalimba<\/strong>. This makes the Holdaway version a true niche product, which paradoxically is also the most widely used version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best kalimbas<\/strong> are employed in rock, folk, jazz, soul, and new age music<\/strong>, especially after their boom in the 1970s<\/strong>. However, it is within the harmonies of traditional African music and folklore that the kalimba has its historical repertoire, evolving alongside the instrument itself. This musical instrument has roots tracing back 3,000 years<\/strong> to the African continent. In its most primitive form, it could be considered the world’s oldest piano<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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