Registration: $10 Online Zoom Workshop with Brendan Taaffe, Saturday, Feb 13 at 3pm
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Brendan Taaffe of Vermont entertained us on guitar and banjo at the online Golden Link Turtle Hill Festival in September. He also brought out an mbira, a traditional Shona instrument from Zimbabwe, that produced a whole other level of interest. So we’ve asked Brendan to present this workshop on mbira.
The mbira is a “lamellaphone,” a family of instruments that all have plucked “tongues,” most commonly made of metal, and which is present throughout much of southern Africa. This family includes the kalimba, familiar to many North Americans, as well as the sanza, ilimba, and many other variants. Brendan will focus on the mbira dza vadzimu (“mbira of the ancestors”), a sacred instrument of the Shona people in Zimbabwe.
Brendan will talk about the history of the instrument, how it is played, and its place in contemporary Zimbabwe. There will be live demonstrations, recorded material, and resources for further exploration. Brendan has traveled to Zimbabwe twice to study this mesmerizing tradition, working with master teachers (gwenyambira) Cosmas Magaya, Fradreck Mujuru, and Leonard Chiyanike.
Adept in traditional playing, Brendan has also merged mbira with traditional Appalachian music, most notably on ‘Can’t Hold The Wheel,’ a 2013 album with banjo wizard Adam Hurt, and will talk about how to blend traditions with respect for their roots.
Be sure to reserve a place by registering for this event by Feb. 11. Golden Link will send you a Zoom-invitation on Feb. 12. We will begin admitting people into the workshop at 2:45 p.m. on Feb. 13. Questions may be directed to our Education Coordinator.