Ethiopia: Three Chordophone Traditions

These recordings, made by ethnomusicologist Cynthia Tse Kimberlin in 1972 in the capital city of Addis Ababa, showcase three Ethiopian chordophones: the bägänna, a large 10-string plucked lyre; the krar, a smaller 5- or 6-string plucked lyre; and the masinqo, a single-string spiked fiddle. The music represents styles of five Ethiopian ethnic groups—the Amhara, Dorze, Oromo, and two Tigre groups. Examples of everyday music in this collection were selected to reveal musical characteristics common to both individual performers and instrumental genres but also to illuminate other musical characteristics that differentiate the aforementioned ethnic groups, their performers, and instrumental genres. Detailed liner notes provide background on the traditions and performers, illustrations and musical transcriptions, and translations of most lyrics.

Track Listing

101	Selamta (The Creation) Alemu Aga	02:52
102	Fäbälähala (From Earth You Came; To Earth You Shall Return) Alemu Aga	02:40
103	Abba gran motä (Death of the Left-Handed) Alemu Aga	05:30
104	Mädägäna zäläsana bätbaze (About the Futility of Life) Alemu Aga	04:32
105	Instrumental Melody Alemu Aga	01:48
106	Tälafino gomdär Garmayon Bayaga	03:52
107	Tene eko Mahay Sofa	06:00
108	Ambasel Alemayehu Fantay	06:21
109	Selala Alemayehu Fantay	03:56
110	Gämay eney Kafel Asamarom	04:25
111	Waya luleho Legassi Abdi	05:04
112	Samni Kebrom Kabrazhi	05:17