From strings to winds to percussion, the amount of variety in the instrument world is astounding. Most people are familiar with those in the typical symphony orchestra, but what about the instruments hidden in the folds of history and ethnic tradition? Along with its forms and the ways one creates it, music gives a precious glimpse of a people’s culture. Below is an inexhaustive list of traditional instruments, each one representing its respective continent.
Africa: Balafon
With origins from 12th century West Africa, the balafon is a percussion instrument similar to the xylophone. While both instruments sport wooden keys, the balafon also has gourds, or calabash, attached underneath them to serve as amplifiers. Typically, there are twenty-one keys, each bound to the bamboo frame with cords. A knock-like undertone accompanies the hollow notes, creating a distinct yet enchanting sound. Unlike other percussion instruments, such as the djembe, which were used in everyday life, the balafon was traditionally reserved for special ceremonies, and only specific families of musicians, Jelis, knew this instrument’s art. Nowadays, however, whether it is performed on its own or with other instruments, the balafon can be played by anybody.
Asia: Dan Bau
According to Vietnamese legend, the Dan Bau was first played by a blind woman as her livelihood while her husband was away at war. This string instrument, however, likely has roots far back in Vietnam’s early dynasties; it consists only of one string, traditionally made of silk, drawn across a soundboard with a tuning peg on one end and a bamboo rod that runs through a gourd on the other. When playing the Dan Bau, one touches the string lightly with their pinky and plucks with the other fingers, producing haunting harmonics, or overtones. The left hand is used to push or pull the bamboo rod, which lowers or raises the pitch of the note respectively. This technique can also be used to create vibrato. Though usually played unaccompanied or along with a poetry reading, the Dan Bau has now been incorporated into orchestras.
Australia: Gum leaf
Out of the six instruments listed in this article, the Aboriginal gum leaf is arguably the most unique, as it consists of, well, just one leaf. Placed firmly on the lower lip, lightly on the upper lip, and held taut in the hands, this instrument produces a high-pitched, distinct brass sound and can cover over an octave’s range of pitches. With the right technique, melodies can be played. However, its simplicity becomes the most challenging aspect of playing. Have you ever struggled to whistle through a blade of grass? Imagine making music with a leaf!
Europe: Kantele
The kantele, a member of the zither family, is a traditional Finnish instrument most commonly played by plucking its strings with both hands. Whether placed on the lap or suspended by straps, it emits a resonating sound–rich yet piercing. Kanteles have at least five strings, but larger ones can contain over thirty; their strings are tuned to a specific mode and key—this means that pitches not included in that scale cannot be played unless the kantele is retuned. Finland’s national epic, Kalevala, features this instrument, and while the poem was published in 1835, the kantele’s history reaches much further back in time—around 2,000 years, in fact! Today, many Finnish schools incorporate the kantele into their music curriculum, allowing children to experience a beautiful part of their culture.
North America: Apache Fiddle
The Apache fiddle, or tsii’edo’a’tl (“wood that sings”), is a single-stringed fiddle with only one pitch. While its origins remain unclear, it was likely created in the 1800s as a result of Spanish influence in the Americas. Its simple, hollow body is made from the agave plant and decorated with geometric shapes; instead of placing it on the shoulder, a player rests the base of the fiddle against his torso. With its coarse and droning monotone, the Apache fiddle was traditionally used in ceremonies or courtship to accompany song, but unfortunately, few keep this piece of Apache heritage alive today.
South America: Siku
The siku, also known as the Andean pan flute (or zampoña in Spanish or antara in Quechua) finds its beginnings in the region which today encompasses the conjoining borders of Peru and Bolivia. Constructed with bamboo, the siku is most commonly made up of two rows of pipes: the arka (a row of seven) and the ira (a row of six). These instruments were traditionally used in ceremonies to praise the people’s gods. With an almost gravelly tone paired with the richness of the notes, the siku creates a distinct and unforgettable sound.
If you would like to explore these traditional instruments further, links to recordings of each have been included below:
Balafon: youtu.be/kXXhp_bZvck
Dan Bau: youtu.be/G_ZMrcGUMro
Gum leaf: youtu.be/VhlQoG7pApg
Kantele: youtu.be/QiFUVD7djvo
Apache Fiddle: youtu.be/VdnIWchxJsg?t=311
Siku: youtu.be/rV6oLxYuIhI
Works Cited
“Apache Fiddle.” National Museum of American History, americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_606930.
Chris Sylla. “The Balafon, an Ancient West African Musical Instrument.” The Gambia Experience, 24 Oct. 2019, www.gambia.co.uk/blog/the-story-of-the-balafon-an-ancient-west-african-musical-instrument.
Fletcher, Neville. “Australian Aboriginal Musical Instruments.” Didjshop, Aug. 2003, www.didjshop.com/austrAboriginalMusicInstruments.htm.
“Anthony Belvado and the Apache Fiddle Tradition.” Youtube, uploaded by Garry Kling, 21 February 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdnIWchxJsg&ab_channel=GarryKling.
“History of the Kantele.” Baltic Psalteries, 24 May 2018, balticpsalteries.com/history-of-the-kantele/.
“Kantele.” Kardemimmit, 2016, www.kardemimmit.fi/kantele/.
Kivite, Titus. “The Balafon.” Africa Global News, 24 July 2021, africaglobalnews.com/the-balafon/.
Knight, Deborah. “How Do You Play the Gumleaf?” 2GB, 15 Aug. 2022, www.2gb.com/how-do-you-play-the-gumleaf/.
Rachel Tran. “Dan Bau – Monochord of Vietnam.” Vietnam Discovery, 25 Dec. 2019, vietnamdiscovery.com/culture-arts/dan-bau/.
“Siku (Andean Pan Flute).” White Crow Flutes, 2 Sept. 2020, www.whitecrowflutes.com/siku-andean-pan-flute/.
Photo Credits
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