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The marovany (formerly spelled marouvane) is a suitcase shaped, wooden, type of
box zither The box zither is a class of stringed instrument in the form of a trapezoid-shaped or rectangular, hollow box. The strings of the box zither are either struck with light hammers or plucked. Among the most popular plucked box zithers are the Arab ...
from
Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...
, used in
Malagasy music The highly diverse and distinctive music of Madagascar has been shaped by the musical traditions of Southeast Asia, Africa, Oceania, Arabia, England, France and the United States over time as indigenous people, immigrants, and colonists have ma ...
. It is strung on both sides with metal strings. The player plucks the strings with both hands, often with rapid alternation. This often creates complex rhythmic patterns, typical of Malagasy music. It is tuned in sequences of thirds. The instrument is commonly used in rituals and spiritual gatherings.


Cultural Significance

The marovany and other instruments are used by Madagascar musical troupes at reburial ceremonies, where the music is believed to help a medium better enter a trance state during rituals which will only be successful if the correct type of music is being played.


See also

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Music of Madagascar The highly diverse and distinctive music of Madagascar has been shaped by the musical traditions of Southeast Asia, Africa, Oceania, Arabia, England, France and the United States over time as indigenous people, immigrants, and colonists have ma ...
*
Valiha The valiha is a tube zither from Madagascar made from a species of local bamboo; it is considered the " national instrument" of Madagascar. The term is also used to describe a number of related zithers of differing shapes and materials. T ...


References


External links


Guitar Masters of Madagascar by Danny Carnahan
Box zithers Malagasy musical instruments {{zither-instrument-stub