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Mhute ye Mbira (Mbira mist) - powerful contemporary mbira music from Zimbabwe

by Mhute ye Mbira

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    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Bonus features include pictures of Williams roundhouse, and shots of the local area.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £4.45 GBP  or more

     

1.
Nyamaropa 08:28
2.
Bukatiende 08:53
3.
Marenje 06:18
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about

Unapologetically powerful mbira music from the very heart of Zimbabwe today.

ALL money raised goes directly to the two musicians featured. A great way to support mbira music and musicians.

The new collaboration from William Chitauro and Masimba Masawi (Nyamasvisva) recorded together in William's roundhouse deep in the Zimbabwean countryside.

Both these artists have a wealth of playing experience from the 1960's to the present day.

William learnt his craft from the pool of mbira players in Mhondoro in the 1960's including the legendary Bandambira. He has taught prominent players known in the west such as Chartwell Dutiro, Chris Berry, Sebastian Pott etc. His musicality and knowledge of how multiple mbira parts combine is well known. Check out his mbira tutorials on this page. 

Nyamasvisva, hailing from Mhondoro, also has a huge repertoire of parts but also an extraordinary ability to improvise at speed, particularly using the bass notes and an ability to make the music swing while remaining true to its traditional roots.
They have been playing together more regularly for a year or so and the blend of tradition and improvisation is beginning to forge a powerful and unique sound.

Watch them both play on YouTube!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5gAFTLyuho

www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-xW0xpON98

Mbira are found across the southern half of Africa but the instrument William and Nyamasvisva play is probably the most complex, consisting of two rows of lower notes on the left hand and a row of higher notes on the right. There is a link to a short video of Nyyamasvisva playing to show just how the complex melodies are produced at such speed. Often two or more mbira will play different melodies together to create a fast interlocking fugue-like stream of music. In ceremonies this combines with shakers (hosho) and drums (ngoma) to induce trance in the spirit medium in order to communicate with the ancestors.

Do ask if you have any questions or if you want to book the band.

For more detail on the mbira, the music and its place in Shona society see:
mbira.org/what-is-mbira/mbira-music/shona-mbira-music/

credits

released November 17, 2019

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Mhute ye Mbira Zimbabwe

William learnt his craft from the great mbira players in Mhondoro in the 1960's including the legendary Bandambira. His musicality and knowledge of how parts combine is well known.

Nyamasvisva, hailing from Mhondoro, also has a huge repertoire, but also an extraordinary ability to improvise at speed and an ability to make the music swing while remaining true to its traditional roots.
... more

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