E1056: Thumb piano (Lamellaphone)

Ethnographic

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Identifier:

E1056

Classification Category:

6:Tools & Equipment for Communication ➞ Musical T&E

Materials:

botanical ➔ wood
metal

Dimensions:

30.5 cm L
13.5 cm W
6.5 cm H

Provenance of Object:

This object was held in the museum that Luther College started in 1877. This museum eventually grew into the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, and following this, non-Norwegian American ethnographic objects were returned to Luther and accessioned into the college’s Anthropology Collection. Without additional documentation, was likely obtained by the Luther College Museum (later the Norwegian-American Museum) between the late 19th century and early 20th century.

Ethnic Group:

African ➞ Chokwe

Description:

This Lamellophone or cisanzi has a socio-cultural and musical function for the Chokwe people of northeast Angola. The cisanzi is important to their oral tradition. Resonators on the bottom are thin metal, glass, or shell rings that vibrate when the instrument is played to create a different timbre. Hugh Tracey, an ethnomusicologist working in central and southern Africa in the late 1930s noted that these Lamellophones had 11 Lamellen (metal rods that are plucked) and 2 tonal centers played with the thumbs.

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