December 18, 2009
Volume 4, Number 10
Kalimba Magic NEWS
In This Issue
In the feature documentary, Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North, filmmaker Katrina Browne
discovers that her New England ancestors were the largest slave-trading family in U.S. history. She and nine
cousins retrace the Triangle Trade and gain a powerful new perspective on black/white relations.
We are starting up a new series on playing the recorder with the kalimba. I invite you to listen to some of my favorite music that I have made with a $100
Hugh Tracey kalimba, a $1000 Martin guitar (1980 dollars), a $1000 Gibson 1920
mandolin, and two $10 Yamaha recorders. The inexpensive recorder and kalimba stand up
mighty fine to the sounds made by some of the best brands of guitar and mandolin.
Snuffy and Chris Joye share their clever ideas for making kalimba and sansula cases from inexpensive consumer items. Expect more suggestions such as these ones from the kalimba community in future newsletters.
The Hugh Tracey Alto and Treble kalimbas come tuned to the key of G. But what if you need to play in other keys? What if you want to play in any and every key? Borrowing from the harmonica, we've got a plan for key flexible playing on the kalimba.
Erica Azim, founder and director of Mbira.org, shares ideas for how we can help
dozens of Shona players of traditional mbira music survive in these
very bad times in Zimbabwe. Mbira.org sells their music CDs and returns
all the profits to the players, supporting the continued playing of
traditional mbira music.
The Kalimba Magic Newsletter Archives
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