The
Masenqo ( am, ማሲንቆ;
Tigrinya
(; also spelled Tigrigna) is an Ethio-Semitic language commonly spoken Eritrea and in northern Ethiopia's Tigray Region by the Tigrinya and Tigrayan peoples. It is also spoken by the global diaspora of these regions.
History and literature ...
: ጭራ-ዋጣ (ዋጣ) is a single-stringed
bowed lute commonly found in the musical traditions of
Ethiopia.
As with the
krar, this instrument is used by Ethiopian
minstrels called ''
azmari
An Azmari (Amharic: አዝማሪ) is an entertainer who sings and plays traditional string instruments of the Ethiopian Highlands. Its comparable to medieval European minstrels or bard or West African griots.
''Azmari'', who may be either male ...
s'' ("singer" in
Amharic
Amharic ( or ; (Amharic: ), ', ) is an Ethiopian Semitic language, which is a subgrouping within the Semitic branch of the Afroasiatic languages. It is spoken as a first language by the Amharas, and also serves as a lingua franca for all oth ...
)
. Although it functions in a purely accompaniment capacity in songs, the masenqo requires considerable virtuosity,
as azmaris accompany themselves while singing.
Construction and design
The square or diamond-shaped
resonator is made of four small wooden boards glued together, then covered with a stretched
parchment or
rawhide. The single string is typically made of horse hair, and passes over a bridge. The instrument is tuned by means of a large
tuning peg to fit the range of the singer's voice.
It may be bowed by either the right or left hand, and the non-bow hand sits lightly on top of the upper part of the string.
See also
*
Music of Ethiopia
Ethiopian music is a term that can mean any music of Ethiopian origin, however, often it is applied to a genre, a distinct modal system that is pentatonic, with characteristically long intervals between some notes.
The music of the Ethiopian Hig ...
*
Music of Eritrea
The music of Eritrea, is a diverse mix of traditional and popular styles originating from ancient to modern times. The nine major ethnic groups of Eritrea—Afar, Bilen, Hedareb, Kunama, Nara, Rashaida, Saho, Tigre and Tigrinya—celebrate autono ...
References
Ethiopian musical instruments
Eritrean musical instruments
Bowed string instruments
Drumhead lutes
One-string fiddles
{{lute-stub