The benta is a large one-string bamboo zither native to Jamaica. The instrument is an
idiochord An idiochord ( la, idio – "self", chord – "string", also known as a drum zither) is a musical instrument in which the "string" of the instrument is made from the same material as its resonating body. Such instruments may be found in the Indian O ...
, in that the string of the instrument is made from the same piece of bamboo as composes the body. The instrument is played by two men sitting astride it at either end, one striking the string and the other changing the pitch of the string by using a gourd like a
guitar slide.
The instrument is primarily used to accompany
Dinki Mini mourning ceremonies in
Saint Mary Parish and
Portland Parish
Portland, with its capital town Port Antonio, is a parish located on Jamaica's northeast coast. It is situated to the north of St Thomas and to the east of St Mary in Surrey County. It is one of the rural areas of Jamaica, containing part ...
.
See also
*
Diddley bow
The diddley bow is a single-stringed American instrument which influenced the development of the blues sound. It consists of a single string of baling wire tensioned between two nails on a board over a glass bottle, which is used both as a brid ...
, a similar slide-monochord in the United States
References
{{Reflist
External links
"Celebration Of Jamaica's Heritage" ''
The Gleaner
''The Gleaner'' is an English-language, morning daily newspaper founded by two brothers, Jacob and Joshua de Cordova on 13 September 1834 in Kingston, Jamaica. Originally called the ''Daily Gleaner'', the name was changed on 7 December 1992 to ' ...
'', 8 February 2018. Newspaper article about benta]
Jamaican musical instruments
Bamboo musical instruments
Monochords
Idiochords