Gravikord
The Gravikord is an electric bridge harp . It was invented in 1986 by Robert Grawi and is derived from the West African kora . Since it is an electromagnetically amplified harp, the gravikord belongs to the chordophones and electrophones .
construction
Although the Gravikord is derived from the Kora, there are major design differences. The body covered with animal skin is missing , as the sound signals are picked up by means of an electromagnetic pickup . This is located on the bridge of the gravic cord. It usually has 24 strings, which are all tuned individually. The strings come together in a V-shape. Except for the wooden vocal block, all parts of the gravic cord are made of metal or synthetic materials. It is 1.37 meters long and weighs about 2.3 kilograms.
Style of play & mood
Similar to the harp, the gravikord is played with the thumb and forefinger. In the middle of the instrument there are two handles that can be used to hold the instrument while playing. The strings are divided into two groups of twelve strings each, each group is played by one hand. That has to do with the mood of the two groups. As with many African instruments, this is based on intervals and not on tone scales . Nevertheless, one could say that the tone scale is covered by G major / E minor. With the exception of a bass string, the strings in a group are spaced apart from a major third and a minor third . The right and left sides are one second (pitch) apart:
- Left: D2, C2, E3, G3, B3, D4, F # 4, A4, C5, E5, G5, B5
- Right: G2, B2, D3, F # 3, A3, C4, E4, G4, B4, D5, F # 5, A5
The Gravikord thus has a pitch range of around 3½ octaves . The fact that the notes are symmetrically tuned to one another often results in consonant runs .
Although theoretically only one of the intervals diatonic scale results, you can practically still accidentals considered. The tone can be increased by pressing down a string behind the bridge. This is done either with a free finger or with an extra effects pedal that raises the pitch of all strings at the same time .
Effects
The Gravikord is, as also z. B. the electric guitar , electrically amplified. A wide variety of effects devices can be switched between the Gravikord and the amplifier . The most commonly used are: Vibrato , Delay , Distortion , Reverb , Wah-Wah and the " pitch shifters " that allow chromatic playing.
Discography
- 1988 - Making Waves - Bob Grawi (Take That Music)
- 1990 - New World Power - Foday Musa Suso (Island Records)
- 1991 - Rising Tide - Bob Grawi (Take That Music)
- 1996 - Cherries & Stars - Bob Grawi (Take That Music)
- 1998 - Gravikords, Whirlies & Pyrophones - Bob Grawi and Multiple Artists (Ellipsis Arts)
- 2005 - Calabash Moon - Daniel Berkman (Magnatune)
- 2008 - Le Chant de la Foret - Jacques Burtin (Bayard Musique)
- 2009 - Heartstrings - Daniel Berkman (Magnatune)
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Gravikord Overview, http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/om15000.html