buzz

The sound of mbira usually includes a buzzing sound. Shells, beads or bottle caps attached to the mbira and to the deze vibrate with the striking of the mbira's keys, producing a continuous, drone-like buzzing that creates an additional sound in sympathetic resonance to the sound of the keys.

Such buzzing is an integral part of much African music. For those who write about mbira, finding words to describe the effect of the buzzing quality of mbira is a challenge.

It may be seen as analogous to the mist that partly obscures the mountains and small figures of certain Chinese silk-screen paintings the mist is an integral part of such paintings, establishing mood and feeling, and the figures are not supposed to be seen more clearly.

Paul Berliner — The Soul of Mbira

For the listener, the buzz "tunes out" other stimuli and allows the listener to hear the mbira rhythms.

Solomon Murungu — www.zambuko.com

The buzz is considered an essential part of the mbira sound, required to clear the mind of thoughts and worries so that the mbira music can fill the consciousness of the performers and listeners. The buzz adds depth and context to the clear tones of the mbira keys, and may be heard as whispering voices, singing, tapping, knocking, wind or rain. The buzz also increases the volume of the mbira.

Erica Azim — www.mbira.org

The mbira’s vibrators or buzzers contribute to the overall complexity of the sound. Bringing out various rhythmic patterns and occasionally vibrating in sympathy with the pitches played, the buzzers sound slightly out of phase with the music. At times it is as if they echo or paraphrase the figures played., while at other times they seem to bring out their own phrases or to create the effect of a drone.

Paul Berliner — The Soul of Mbira

While most Shona musicians would balk at trying to verbalize the essence of this aspect of the mbira's sound, Paul Berliner quotes Ephat Mujuru saying that "when he played the mbira the buzzing from his instrument produced "tensions" and created a sense of drama for him, as he thought deeply of his ancestors and their images crystallized before him."

Those new to mbira music sometimes find the buzzing distracting. In fact, when mbira is recorded for Western audiences the buzzing is often eliminated, providing a "purer", clearer sound more sympathetic to the Western ear. But over time one comes to appreciate the essential qualities the buzzing contributes to the music—the buzzing sound is an integral and necessary part of the music. For the listener, the buzz "tunes out" other stimuli Once you have come to hear the music in its entirety, mbira without the buzzing will seem to be missing an important quality.

 

Traditionally, the buzzing has been created by seashells or metal beads attached to a metal plate on the mbira's soundboard. In recent times, bottle caps—more readily available than seashells in a landlocked country—have become the buzzers of choice. By choosing the method of vibration, the mbira maker can choose a buzzing sound anywhere from from a soft shimmering hiss to a tambourine-like sound.