The Soul of Mbira: Music and Traditions of the Shona People of Zimbabwe (Paperback)

by Paul F. Berliner (Author) "When I first went to Zimbabwe in 1971, I was very excited about the prospects of studying the mbira in its cultural setting..." (more)
Key Phrases: mbira pieces, mbira keys, mbira music, Hakurotwi Mude, John Kunaka, Simon Mashoko (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This sensitive, scholarly portrayal of Shona musicians and the African Musical tradition is highly engaging and comprehensive in its range of data. Paul Berliner provides the complete cultural context for the music and an intimate, precise account of the meaning of the instrument and its music.

"Paul Berliner's The Soul of Mbira is probably the best ethnography ever written about an African musical tradition. It is a complete classic . . . . I know of no other instrument with the range of the mbira, and the book is equal to the instrument."--John Chernoff

Product Details

• Paperback: 334 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press (June 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226043797
• ISBN-13: 978-0226043791
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #173,005 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #20 in	Books > Entertainment > Music > Musical Genres > Ethnic & International > Ethnomusicology
  #24 in	Books > History > Africa > Zimbabwe
  #64 in	Books > Entertainment > Music > Musical Genres > Folk & Traditional

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good coverage of the topic, May 13, 2000

By	"thisnicknameisnottaken" (Australia) - See all my reviews

Anyone who liked _Thinking in Jazz_, another Paul Berliner book, will probably enjoy _Soul of Mbira_. It takes a similar approach, looking at the history, sociology, tradition and musical nature of the Shona mbira (also known as the kalimba, sanzhi, likembe, or 'thumb piano' - though after you hear Paul's comments on the latter name, you won't want to use it again).

Other musical instruments by the Shona are also covered, but to a much lesser degree. The section on performance is nice, but it is the part which suffers most from 'dancing about architecture' syndrome.

The appendix on 'building and playing your own mbira' is informative, but unless you have access to an anvil and fire, not very practical! It isn't hard to modify the design and make your own anyway, though, it just won't be as traditional.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The quintessential work on Mbira, August 2, 2005

By	Robby Gall - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Excellent! An in depth study of the music and the traditions and culture that are the driving force behind the music. Any serious study of the mbira must include this book.