Box bass

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The box bass is a musical instrument that is used in parang music in Trinidad . It is an archaic plucked instrument, consisting of a sound body - usually a box - a stick and a single string .

history

The history of its origin is quite unclear. This is due, among other things, to the fact that it is a very simply structured instrument whose “ingredients” can usually be freely selected. Therefore, there are similarly constructed plucked instruments elsewhere in the world as well. For example the tea-box bass or the wash-tub bass , both of which are used by skiffle bands.

For the parang in Trinidad, the box bass is a relatively new instrument that has only been one of the standard instruments of the parang since the middle of the 20th century. Its predecessor was the bass lamellophone , which was also known as the box bass due to its shape. It was similar in structure to the West African Mbira and Sanza, but was larger. In the surrounding Latin American countries this type of bass lamellophone is also known under the name marimbol , marímbula, marimbola or marimba. The bass lamellophone must be distinguished from the name-like surcharge idiophone marimba .

construction

The sound body is usually a box or a barrel. The timbre of the instrument varies depending on its structure. A sound hole is usually worked into the sound body. While one end of the string is attached to the box or the sound body, the other is attached to a stick that is loosely inserted into a hole in or on the box. This hole for the stick is more on the edge of the sound box so that the ceiling can swing as freely as possible. The pitch is varied by tensing or relaxing the side with the stick. The box stands on the ground and is fixed with one foot. This is why a space for the foot is incorporated into some box bass instruments.

The box bass is usually built by the musician using it himself, or built for him by another box bass musician. That is why most of the box basses are unique.

Style of play

The musician plays the box bass while standing with one foot placed on the box. One hand determines the pitch while the other hand plucks the string. The majority of musicians pluck with thumb and forefinger, other playing styles are possible. The alternate stroke with index and middle finger also occurs. Very often the stop fingers are wrapped with plaster for protection.

sound

Depending on the construction, the box bass can produce a more percussive effect without much aftertaste, while others can develop a clearly recognizable sound similar to a plucked double bass .

swell

  • Klaus Näumann Parang music in Trinidad: a Hispanic tradition in an Anglophone country LIT Verlag Münster, 2005 (e-Book) Chapter 3.8.7 Pages 119–123 [1]