Total L. 9 1/4 in. (23.4 cm); Max. W. 6 5/8 in. (16.9 cm); Thickness of bridge 3/4 in. (2 cm); Thickness of soundhole 1 5/8 in. (4 cm); Thickness of longest lamellae 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm); Thickness of shortest lamellae 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm)
met
Total L. 9 1/4 in. (23.4 cm); Max. W. 6 5/8 in. (16.9 cm); Thickness of bridge 3/4 in. (2 cm); Thickness of soundhole 1 5/8 in. (4 cm); Thickness of longest lamellae 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm); Thickness of shortest lamellae 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm)
Dimensions
false
AMICA Contributor:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art
AMICA Contributor
false
Owner Location:
New York, New York, USA
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New York, New York, USA
Owner Location
false
ID Number:
09.163.6
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09.163.6
ID Number
false
Credit Line:
The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
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The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
The nyonganyonga is a lamellaphone an instrument consisting of thin metal or split cane tongues mounted on a resonating board or box. Depressing the free ends of the tongues with the thumbs produces a gentle ringing sound, sometimes augmented by jingling objects attached to the board. The instrument may be amplified by holding it in a hollow gourd. Tuning is accomplished by sliding the tongues in or out to change their vibrating length. Lamellaphones are distributed across sub-Saharan Africa and were brought to Latin America by enslaved Africans . They are known by many names that also may be shared with xylophones. Most names have word stems that include -mbila -mira -limba or -rima. Westerners, not recognizing differences in construction, have simplified the name to two regional terms, calling them either mbira or sanza.
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<P>The nyonganyonga is a lamellaphone an instrument consisting of thin metal or split cane tongues mounted on a resonating board or box. Depressing the free ends of the tongues with the thumbs produces a gentle ringing sound, sometimes augmented by jingling objects attached to the board. The instrument may be amplified by holding it in a hollow gourd. Tuning is accomplished by sliding the tongues in or out to change their vibrating length. Lamellaphones are distributed across sub-Saharan Africa and were brought to Latin America by enslaved Africans . They are known by many names that also may be shared with xylophones. Most names have word stems that include -mbila -mira -limba or -rima. Westerners, not recognizing differences in construction, have simplified the name to two regional terms, calling them either mbira or sanza.</P>
