It can be said that Madagascar has a wealth of musical instruments. I will not list them all here but only tell you about one of them, the ampongabe or large drum. I like to play the ampongabe very much and that is why I have chosen it.
The ampongabe comes from Africa, the Comoros, Malaysia, India and Muslim countries and has a cylindrical shape. Madagascar can boast many different ampongabe including the hazolahy, langoro, daba, trotrobe, and others. This instrument was introduced to our island around the 14th century.
The ampongabe is made from soft, flexible strips of wood 5 mm thick called hazondrano or volomborona. The hazondrano forms the body and the two hoops for tension. Two sheep skins or goat skins are stretched over the two hoops and fastened with squared wooden pegs. The two skins must be larger than the circumference of the hoops so that they can be stretched with a sisal cord that is threaded in a shape of a "W" through the small holes that have been pierced through the two skins using a heated iron.
The Malagasy play the ampongabe along with the langoroana, its inseparable companion. The langoroana is smaller than the a Read More
The ampongabe comes from Africa, the Comoros, Malaysia, India and Muslim countries and has a cylindrical shape. Madagascar can boast many different ampongabe including the hazolahy, langoro, daba, trotrobe, and others. This instrument was introduced to our island around the 14th century.
The ampongabe is made from soft, flexible strips of wood 5 mm thick called hazondrano or volomborona. The hazondrano forms the body and the two hoops for tension. Two sheep skins or goat skins are stretched over the two hoops and fastened with squared wooden pegs. The two skins must be larger than the circumference of the hoops so that they can be stretched with a sisal cord that is threaded in a shape of a "W" through the small holes that have been pierced through the two skins using a heated iron.
The Malagasy play the ampongabe along with the langoroana, its inseparable companion. The langoroana is smaller than the a Read More
It can be said that Madagascar has a wealth of musical instruments. I will not list them all here but only tell you about one of them, the ampongabe or large drum. I like to play the ampongabe very much and that is why I have chosen it.
The ampongabe comes from Africa, the Comoros, Malaysia, India and Muslim countries and has a cylindrical shape. Madagascar can boast many different ampongabe including the hazolahy, langoro, daba, trotrobe, and others. This instrument was introduced to our island around the 14th century.
The ampongabe is made from soft, flexible strips of wood 5 mm thick called hazondrano or volomborona. The hazondrano forms the body and the two hoops for tension. Two sheep skins or goat skins are stretched over the two hoops and fastened with squared wooden pegs. The two skins must be larger than the circumference of the hoops so that they can be stretched with a sisal cord that is threaded in a shape of a "W" through the small holes that have been pierced through the two skins using a heated iron.
The Malagasy play the ampongabe along with the langoroana, its inseparable companion. The langoroana is smaller than the ampongabe and it has a trilled sound because of the three strings stretched on one of the hoops. The ampongabe is used during circumcisions, second burials or public festivals. It is always played in the open because of the loud sound it makes.
In Madagascar, the large drum is considered the female and the smaller represents the male drum because of its size but also because it is light and easy to handle. The large drums exist mainly in the central highlands and are played by popular folk singers (the mpihira gasy).
The ampongabe is played by striking it with two sticks, one of reed and the other of wood. The wooden one has one end is which covered in thick cloth.
The Malagasy have a special technique for playing the ampongabe, sometimes striking it with either end of the wooden stick.
Just before a mpihira gasy performance, drums beat very loudly to announce that the performance is about to begin. Before the end of the performance, the ampongabe and langoroana players (the large drum and its little companion) improvise, and for a few moments they charm the dancers into a frenzy.
The ampongabe comes from Africa, the Comoros, Malaysia, India and Muslim countries and has a cylindrical shape. Madagascar can boast many different ampongabe including the hazolahy, langoro, daba, trotrobe, and others. This instrument was introduced to our island around the 14th century.
The ampongabe is made from soft, flexible strips of wood 5 mm thick called hazondrano or volomborona. The hazondrano forms the body and the two hoops for tension. Two sheep skins or goat skins are stretched over the two hoops and fastened with squared wooden pegs. The two skins must be larger than the circumference of the hoops so that they can be stretched with a sisal cord that is threaded in a shape of a "W" through the small holes that have been pierced through the two skins using a heated iron.
The Malagasy play the ampongabe along with the langoroana, its inseparable companion. The langoroana is smaller than the ampongabe and it has a trilled sound because of the three strings stretched on one of the hoops. The ampongabe is used during circumcisions, second burials or public festivals. It is always played in the open because of the loud sound it makes.
In Madagascar, the large drum is considered the female and the smaller represents the male drum because of its size but also because it is light and easy to handle. The large drums exist mainly in the central highlands and are played by popular folk singers (the mpihira gasy).
The ampongabe is played by striking it with two sticks, one of reed and the other of wood. The wooden one has one end is which covered in thick cloth.
The Malagasy have a special technique for playing the ampongabe, sometimes striking it with either end of the wooden stick.
Just before a mpihira gasy performance, drums beat very loudly to announce that the performance is about to begin. Before the end of the performance, the ampongabe and langoroana players (the large drum and its little companion) improvise, and for a few moments they charm the dancers into a frenzy.
© 1999, CHIN. All Rights Reserved.
The ampongabe is a percussion instrument of the membranophone family.
Canadian Heritage Information Network
Museum of Art and Archeology of the University of Antananarivo, Madagascar
19th Century
Goat, zebu or sheep skin, flexible wood, string, piece of cloth for the stick, nails.
34 x 70 cm
© 1999, CHIN. All Rights Reserved.
Europe
Canadian Heritage Information Network
Museum of Art and Archeology of the University of Antananarivo, Madagascar
19th Century
Goat, zebu or sheep skin, flexible wood, string, piece of cloth for the stick, nails.
34 x 70 cm
© 1999, CHIN. All Rights Reserved.
The ampongabe is a percussion instrument of the membranophone family.
Canadian Heritage Information Network
Museum of Art and Archeology of the University of Antananarivo, Madagascar
© 1999, CHIN. All Rights Reserved.
The drum is played by striking the two skins with a pair of sticks. Alternatively, the fingers of one hand can strike one side while the other hand hits the skins with a stick.
Canadian Heritage Information Network
Museum of Art and Archeology of the University of Antananarivo, Madagascar
© 1999, CHIN. All Rights Reserved.
The ampongabe is a percussion instrument of the membranophone family.
It was introduced to Madagascar by Europeans in the 19th century and replaced its precursor, the ampongan’ny ntaolo.
It is made of two goat, zebu or sheep skin.
It uses indirect, nailed or laced fasteners and large bridges to stretch the skins.
The drum is played by striking the two skins with a pair of sticks. Alternatively, the fingers of one hand can strike one side while the other hand hits the skins with a stick.
In the highlands of Madagascar, the large drum is played especially by popular artistic groups called the mpihira gasy or the mpilalao. It is played in the open air and is often accompanied by the maintikely (clarinet), the sodina (flute) and the lokanga (viol).
Large drums seem to have developed before smaller ones. The large drum is played by setting it on the ground or carrying it suspended around the neck.
The inseparable companion of the large drum is the smaller langoroana. Women and young men may play the langoroana but only men can play the ampongabe.
It was introduced to Madagascar by Europeans in the 19th century and replaced its precursor, the ampongan’ny ntaolo.
It is made of two goat, zebu or sheep skin.
It uses indirect, nailed or laced fasteners and large bridges to stretch the skins.
The drum is played by striking the two skins with a pair of sticks. Alternatively, the fingers of one hand can strike one side while the other hand hits the skins with a stick.
In the highlands of Madagascar, the large drum is played especially by popular artistic groups called the mpihira gasy or the mpilalao. It is played in the open air and is often accompanied by the maintikely (clarinet), the sodina (flute) and the lokanga (viol).
Large drums seem to have developed before smaller ones. The large drum is played by setting it on the ground or carrying it suspended around the neck.
The inseparable companion of the large drum is the smaller langoroana. Women and young men may play the langoroana but only men can play the ampongabe.
The ampongabe is a percussion instrument of the membranophone family.
It was introduced to Madagascar by Europeans in the 19th century and replaced its precursor, the ampongan’ny ntaolo.
It is made of two goat, zebu or sheep skin.
It uses indirect, nailed or laced fasteners and large bridges to stretch the skins.
The drum is played by striking the two skins with a pair of sticks. Alternatively, the fingers of one hand can strike one side while the other hand hits the skins with a stick.
In the highlands of Madagascar, the large drum is played especially by popular artistic groups called the mpihira gasy or the mpilalao. It is played in the open air and is often accompanied by the maintikely (clarinet), the sodina (flute) and the lokanga (viol).
Large drums seem to have developed before smaller ones. The large drum is played by setting it on the ground or carrying it suspended around the neck.
The inseparable companion of the large drum is the smaller langoroana. Women and young men may play the langoroana but only men can play the ampongabe.
It was introduced to Madagascar by Europeans in the 19th century and replaced its precursor, the ampongan’ny ntaolo.
It is made of two goat, zebu or sheep skin.
It uses indirect, nailed or laced fasteners and large bridges to stretch the skins.
The drum is played by striking the two skins with a pair of sticks. Alternatively, the fingers of one hand can strike one side while the other hand hits the skins with a stick.
In the highlands of Madagascar, the large drum is played especially by popular artistic groups called the mpihira gasy or the mpilalao. It is played in the open air and is often accompanied by the maintikely (clarinet), the sodina (flute) and the lokanga (viol).
Large drums seem to have developed before smaller ones. The large drum is played by setting it on the ground or carrying it suspended around the neck.
The inseparable companion of the large drum is the smaller langoroana. Women and young men may play the langoroana but only men can play the ampongabe.
© 1999, CHIN. All Rights Reserved.
Learning Objectives
The learner will:
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Understand that music is an expression in all cultures
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Understand that the relationship between personal feelings and music transcends borders and cultures
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Develop respect for music from a variety of cultural contexts
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Examine traditional music practices in selected Francophone countries
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Demonstrate geographical awareness by identifying Francophone countries
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Be aware of the musical contributions of various cultural groups in their own community
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Understand that all world music can be organized within a standard classification system
