Music of Madagascar

550: 2406: 39: 2593: 2352: 1783: 1640: 1184: 932: 646: 76: 208: 405: 2102: 821: 1616:, compact disc, radio or internet. Modern forms of Malagasy music may incorporate such innovations as amplified or imported instruments (particularly electric guitar, bass guitar, synthesizer and drum kit), blend the sounds of new and traditional instruments or use traditional instruments in innovative ways. As contemporary artists adapt their musical heritage to today's market, they manage to preserve the melodic, 2486: 2809: 667: 525:) spiritual rituals practiced in several regions of the island, as it is believed that each spirit has a different preferred piece of music. The association between music and ancestors is so strong on the eastern coast that some musicians will put rum, cigarettes or other valued objects inside an instrument (through the 1573:

are found throughout the island and are believed to have come across with the original Indonesian settlers. The earliest of these is played uniquely by a pair of women, one of whom sits with her legs outstretched together and the bars of the xylophone resting across her legs rather than on a separate

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to obtain the desired range. One of the most common tunings drops the sixth string from E to C and the fifth string from A to G, thereby enabling the guitarist to capture a range approximating that of a vocal choir. The Malagasy acoustic guitar style has been internationally promoted by such artists

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Music has long served a variety of secular and sacred purposes in Madagascar. Song may accompany daily tasks, provide entertainment, preserve history or communicate social and political messages. Music is likewise integral to the experience of spiritual ritual among many ethnic and religious groups

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in 1836, but the hymns they developed became anthems for early Malagasy converts persecuted under the Queen's traditionalist policies. In 1871, an LMS missionary (J. Richardson) improved the rhythm and harmony of these original hymns, which were considerably influenced by European musical styles

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Music in Madagascar has served a variety of sacred and secular functions. In addition to its performance for entertainment or personal creative expression, music has played a key part in spiritual ceremonies, cultural events and historic and contemporary political functions. By the late 19th

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Strings may be plucked with the fingernails, which are allowed to grow longer for this purpose. The instrument was originally used for rituals and for creative artistic expression alike. However, beginning in the mid-19th century, playing the instrument became the prerogative of the

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on the eastern coast of the island, although modern items such as empty insecticide tins or sweetened condensed milk cans filled with pebbles increasingly take the place of traditional bamboo. Shakers of this sort are used throughout Madagascar, commonly in conjunction with

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Distinct contemporary forms of music, rooted in local musical traditions, have emerged in the coastal regions since the 1960s. Chief among these are two up-tempo dance music styles that have become especially popular across Madagascar and have achieved crossover success:

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accompanied by a melodic bass line. The strings are traditionally cut and raised from the fibrous surface of the bamboo tube itself, although a contemporary form also exists that instead uses bicycle brake cables for strings to give the instrument a punchier sound.

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was favored, while in the south and western coastal regions singing was performed with more elaborate ornamentation and in small groups. Musical performance in Madagascar has often been associated with spiritual functions. Music is a key component in achieving a

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accompanies this piece, in which dancers will form a long chain of male-female pairs with the woman at the front of each pair, both facing forward holding each other's hands while advancing to the rhythm of the music. From its origins as a courtly dance, the

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and other instruments that were incorporated into local musical traditions by the mid-16th century. The influence of instruments and musical styles from France and Great Britain began to have a significant impact on music in Madagascar by the 19th century.

4122: 2979:. Originally, church music was performed by slaves seated in groups of four to five at the front of the church. By the 1870s a more European congregational style had been adopted with all members of the church rising to their feet to sing together. 1159:, about a foot long with six finger holes and one for the thumb, and another similar end-blown flute over two feet long with three holes at the far end. Both are open-ended and are played by blowing diagonally across the near opening. The master of 665: 557:

Instruments in Madagascar were brought to the island by successive waves of settlers from across the Old World. Over 1500 years ago, the earliest settlers from Indonesia brought the oldest and most emblematic instruments, including the tube zither

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ritual. While in a trance, the medium is possessed by an ancestral spirit. Each spirit is believed to prefer a particular tune or style of music and will not enter the medium unless the suitable piece of music is performed at the ceremony.

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is the most emblematic form of the instrument most likely due to its popularization by the 19th century Merina aristocracy, other forms of the instrument exist across the island. In the region around the eastern port city of

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singing style common to South Africa. Foreign instruments such as the acoustic guitar and piano have been adapted locally to create uniquely Malagasy forms of music. Contemporary Malagasy musical styles such as the

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troupes alike to make increasing use of foreign instruments such as violins, clarinets, trombones and trumpets. The tradition of the court musician died out with the abolition of the monarchy in Madagascar after

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state, typically induced by music) is present on both the western and eastern coasts of the island but the vocal styles or instruments used in the ceremony will vary regionally. Music in Madagascar tends toward

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Malagasy music can be roughly divided into three categories: traditional, contemporary and popular music. Traditional musical styles vary by region and reflect local ethnographic history. For instance, in the

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relative to percussion instruments. Musical instruments and vocal styles found in Madagascar represent a blend of widespread commonalities and highly localized traditions. A common vocal style among the

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The preservation of oral history may be achieved through musical performance in Madagascar. Among the Betsileo, for instance, oral histories are retold through a form of musical performance called the

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with a pair of sticks, one keeping the beat while the second plays a melody. The xylophone bars range from five to seven in number and are made of differing lengths of a rot-resistant wood called

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century, certain instruments and types of music became primarily associated with specific castes or ethnic groups, although these divisions have always been fluid and are continually evolving.

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are experimenting with the fusion of hip-hop and traditional Malagasy musical styles and instruments. There is also a small metal scene with bands like Sasamaso being the most prominent.

978: 948: 2845:, and another for the city of Antananarivo. The queen's troupe consisted of over 300 musicians. Until slavery was abolished, musicians in these groups were members of the slave class ( 2517:

serfs singing in the rice fields, "timing the music to the movements of their bodies, so that at each accented note they plant a stalk." Similarly, songs may accompany the paddling of

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Musical styles from abroad have been merged with pre-existing Malagasy musical traditions to create distinctly Malagasy sounds with foreign roots. An example of this is the

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have evolved from traditional styles modernized by the incorporation of electric guitar, bass, drums and synthesizer. Many Western styles of popular music, including rock,

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just as there are many nationally and internationally acclaimed musicians who draw upon the musical traditions of the coastal regions in their compositions. Of note are

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from wood, near Toamasina the box is constructed of metal sheeting with much thicker and heavier strings that produce a different sound from the bamboo and bicycle cable

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Among some ethnic groups music would help advance a repetitive or arduous task. Geo Shaw, a missionary to Madagascar in the 19th century, described observing

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featuring for example a solo musician who strums rather than fiddles his accompanying instrument and sings at a lower, more natural pitch. While the Betsileo

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resonator, although modern versions may have as many as eleven or thirteen strings, typically made of steel. A maximum of four of these are strung over the

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is evident in both the guitars and polyharmonic vocals, often performed by female singers who repeat variations on a short refrain throughout the song.

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only truly began to garner a similar level of widespread appreciation by the mid-1990s. It was not until the 2000 release of the "Tulear Never Sleeps"

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and that has recently been adapted to contemporary instruments such as electric guitar, bass guitar and drum kit. Generally even more rapid than the

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is especially popular among the Betsileo of the southern Highlands and the Betsimisaraka of the southeast, who play it in accompaniment to their sung

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as missionaries developed Malagasy-language hymns for their nascent church. The first wave of missionaries was obliged to depart Madagascar under

2003: 1620:-dominated sound that distinguishes traditional Malagasy music from the more percussion-heavy traditions of mainland Africa. African genres like 238: 2453:. Artists of this new wave of malagasy music include Black Nadia, Vaiavy Chila, LIANAH and BIG MJ. Jazz has been popularized by artists such as 3680: 995: 490:(as exemplified by groups such as Salala or Senge), whereas Highland harmonies, strongly influenced in the past two hundred years by European 4526: 4296: 1730:

assured his band regular performances in association with Presidential functions, and his band came to define the Ratsiraka epoch for many.

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can address diverse themes, those performed by other southern groups are almost always praise songs recalling a favorably memorable event.

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In the 1950s and 1960s, a variety of bands in the Highlands (in the area between and around Antananarivo and Fianarantsoa) were performing

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Adams, Rashid Epstein (2018), "The Making of a National Instrument: Imagery, Symbolism, and the Social Function of the Malagasy Valiha",

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music is performed at all manner of ceremonial occasion in the South, whether a birthday celebration, community party, or funeral. While

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style in the 1920s and 1930s before declining in the 1940s. Today, the compositions of this period by pianist theatrical composers like

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today is a quintessentially Malagasy tradition performed at the beginning of a social event or concert to kick off the festivities.

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piano style but for whom the purchase of a costly piano was out of reach. Early guitarists adapted the piano style (itself based on

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on long journeys. Music may also accompany another form of entertainment, such as songs chanted by female spectators at matches of

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When the modern acoustic guitar was first popularized in Madagascar, it was adopted by the lower classes who were inspired by the

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There are many more regional styles of contemporary music that have yet to achieve the level of national recognition attained by

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but with nylon fishing line for strings and five or seven movable frets that facilitate modification of the instrument's tuning.

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troupes of today are remnants of a tradition of court musicians that persisted through the end of the 19th century. Under Queen

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ethnic groups. The soundbox, which is typically square or rectangular today, was originally circular in form, first made from a

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bands due to the expense and rarity of the instrument, accordions continue to hold a privileged place in the performance of

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Malagasy music is highly melodic and distinguishes itself from many traditions of mainland Africa by the predominance of

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considered the national instrument of Madagascar—directly evolved from an earlier form of zither carried with the first

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of the Highlands, for instance, does not preclude differences in the prevalence of particular instrument types (the

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of European and American hits or adapting mainland African tunes for local audiences. Madagascar got its first

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style and is typically reserved for ritual or spiritual uses rather than to create music for entertainment. The

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and have been created for entertainment purposes, typically with the intent of eventual mass dissemination via

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Madagascar: Early 20th century distribution of musical instruments with African, Indonesian or European origins

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Music is a common element of spiritual ritual and ceremonies throughout the island. For instance, members of

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broke into the mainstream in the mid-nineties and has since skyrocketed to popularity through artists such as

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are not predominant in the harmony. Other Southern ethnic groups also perform simplified variations of the

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to create a distinctly Malagasy radio-friendly sound. His open and enthusiastic support for then-President

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and drums - over the course of the 19th century the increasing European influence led court musicians and

30: 4552: 1507:("male wood") drum produces the deepest sound and is reserved for the most significant occasions such as 1193: 2795:, who reportedly employed musicians to gather the public together for royal speeches and announcements ( 673:

The strings of the ancestral valiha are made from the raised fibers of the bamboo tube resonator itself.

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Endogenous musical styles may also serve as a form of artistic expression, as in the highly syncopated

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is energetic dance music that originated from the traditional music of the southwestern region around

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Blench, Roger (1982). "Evidence for the Indonesian origins of certain elements of African culture".

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This article is about the music of the country Madagascar. For the soundtrack of the 2005 film, see

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Musical performance in the Highlands took on a distinctly political and educative role through the

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Recollecting from the Past: Musical Practice and Spirit Possession on the East Coast of Madagascar

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is the final Malagasy quadrille composed for the royal court prior to French colonization in 1896.

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to such an extent that possessing long fingernails became symbolic of nobility. While the tubular

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performed by a troupe or as a competition between two or more troupes. While the origins of the

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and are strummed with the fingers in accompaniment to the primary melody which is played with a

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has gained popularity in Madagascar since late 2010s with artists like Mad Max and Basta Lion.

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to the world music scene, winning several international awards for his accordion performance.

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reburial ceremonies of central Madagascar. In coastal regions, music is crucial to helping a

2441:. Since mid-2010s malagasy popular music has been a blend of malagasy music, tropical music ( 1556:—was popularized in Madagascar after being imported there from Brazil where it is known as a 1382: 487: 256: 97: 67: 4033: 3471: 2966:. The subsequent spread of Christianity in Madagascar was coupled with the introduction of 38: 4471: 4361: 4291: 2792: 2730:, popularized in Imerina during the final two decades of the colonial period, in which the 2413:

A wide range of foreign music styles have been popularized in Madagascar, including French

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Rakotomavo, Germain (2004). "Ny gitara tendry gasy ou jeu guitare à la manière malgache".

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was considered to be a slave instrument which only mature men were permitted to play. The

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The Performance of Tradition: An Ethnography of Hira Gasy Popular Theatre in Madagascar

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range. The structure of the song is complex and, unlike other Malagasy musical styles,

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artist whose blunt social and political critiques propelled his group to popularity.

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that was popularized in the Malagasy court in the 19th century. A specific form of

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style) to this novel stringed instrument to create a genre that came to be known as

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are uncertain, oral history attributes its modern form to 18th century Merina king

2458: 2095: 1760: 1727: 1705: 1664: 1613: 1361: 499: 138: 3956: 2841:, there were three official groups of state musicians: one for the queen, one for 4501: 4496: 4436: 4391: 4351: 4246: 4227: 4178: 3824: 3716: 3496: 3314: 3196: 3103: 3021: 2842: 2774: 2764: 2510: 2489: 1357: 1150: 925:), believed to have been brought to Madagascar by settlers from mainland Africa. 788: 422: 320: 284: 189: 92: 42: 4116:

The Museum of Art and Archaeology of the University of Antananarivo (Madagascar)

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Madagascar, le theatre du peuple de l'art hira gasy entre tradition et rebellion

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had risen to national popularity by the mid-1980s (some would argue the 1970s),

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is considered the national instrument of Madagascar. It is typically tuned to a

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and other traditional celebrations. Metal and wood harmonicas are also played.

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In addition to their commonalities in tempo, vocal style, and tendency toward

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Contemporary music comprises modern-day compositions that have their roots in

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is a day-long spectacle of music, dance, and a stylized form of traditional

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Conservatoire national de musique et de déclamation (1922), "Madagascar",

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The Rough Guide to World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East

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form of music features a guitar performance style inspired by traditional

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troupes) originally performed using traditional instruments – namely the

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music. This accordion style was also integrated into the performance of

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McLeod, Norma (1977), "Musical Instruments and History in Madagascar",

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simultaneously; Solo Miral, featuring guitar played in the style of a

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ethnic groups. The simplest form of instrument in this family is the

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Traditional Malagasy music performed at the Paris Exposition of 1931

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