Valiha

The Valiha or bamboo zither is a Madagascan string instrument in the form of a tube zither.

In older designs ( Valiha - Volo Torotenany ) the pitches are represented by small sticks, which are clamped between pipe and strings. The strings are made from the bamboo tube itself, and are therefore idiochord. The upper layer of the bamboo tube between two growth nodes is cut with a knife into longitudinal strips, the ends remain on the pipe and wrapped with raffia or leather straps. By foisted on wooden blocks, the strings are tensioned. Their number varies depending on the diameter and spacing of bamboo rings and can be more than 18. An instrument can be over a meter long.

Along the bamboo tube run on the newer constructions, which are called Valiha - Volo or Valiha Jihy Vihy, metal strings over movable bridges. Instruments with strings made of other materials are called hetero chord. The Valiha is decorated with folk motifs and is usually played with the fingernails.

From the mood of three instruments are distinguished: a pentatonic, a diatonic ( Valiha Lalabdava ) and a chromatic Valiha. In Madagascar, Valiha is played both at family celebrations and religious ceremonies. The instrument is plucked it either between the legs or under the arm and held with both hands.

The Valiha can accompany other instruments, but also be played solo. It is used in traditional folk music, but also in modern Malagasy music.

The origins of the bamboo zithers are in the Southeast Asian countries, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam. Of particular importance is the Sasando music history, the old National Instrument the Indonesian island of Roti. It is a bamboo zither heterochorde with 10 to 36 or more metal strings. A idiochorde bamboo tube zither that is beaten with sticks used as a percussion instrument, is the Chigring the Garo in northeast India.

Discography

• Valiha. Ringing bamboo. Madagascar 3 CD at Fire and Ice, RMC 712, 1992