Look at my Christmas/birthday present! Ok, so I know it’s kind of late for both (my birthday was in March), but sometimes I’m kind of slow at getting around to things. So I saved up my birthday and Christmas money, and voilà, I have a kora! A kora is a 21-stringed instrument, and is kind of like an African harp. So, for those of you who know that I play the harp, you know that I love it. I’m not very good yet since I’ve only had one for a month, but I’m getting better. It makes my brain think a bit, too, since for two octaves the notes alternate between hands. So if my left hand has the C, my right hand (there are two sets of strings) gets the D, my left hand the E, etc. And kora music isn’t written out as sheet music, so everything has to be learned by ear, which is another challenge. But a fun challenge and something new to learn!
I first fell in love with a kora in Senegal, when I got to play around on one belonging to a missionary there. She’s actually the one that pointed me to the kora-maker right in my city who I ended up buying my kora from. I’m trying to post a video of me playing, but it’s not working so far. If I get one posted, you’ll know it worked, and if not, you’ll know what that means, too. 🙂
I hope we hear it at church…..excellent. Beautiful instrument. ( This did come to my email, but I usually check blogs several times a week anyway.)
I heard one of those played by a missionary (he’s from Holland) who was very good at it. It’s a beautiful sound! 🙂 How fun that you have one!