Nyatiti - ep 201

This beautiful cousin of the harp comes from Kenya and has a historical pedigree that you wouldn't believe. Its lineage includes King David and the Jews, the ancient Egyptians, the Canaanites, the San people of Southern Africa, and a Japanese lady! The influences that led to this instrument, and that this instrument led to are an extraordinary study of ancient musicology. But what I really want to show you is how you can play this thing in different ways than the traditional way to get some use out of it for your multi media compositions. This is one of my most cherished instruments and I'd love to share it with you:)

[@dagorettirecords5701]

Thank you for featuring my nyatiti!

[@markkilianschannel]

Love it!

[@jeffbarthel6478]

Mark, excellent video on Nyatiti. I learned with the late Ayub Ogada; I tune B3 A3 G3 E3 E4 D4 B4 A4. Thank you for sharing!

[@markkilianschannel]

Thanx so much Jeff!!

[@Destroyer-vr1pz]

Lovely and comprehensive as usual, it just goes to show just how much history there is behind each instrument, and the shout-outs and references to particular artists renown for their work in an instrument is a nice heads-up for us viewers to explore the instrument on our own as well. Keep up the good work!

[@markkilianschannel]

Thanx!!

[@vagahood]

Another great episode Mr. Kilian! The fun musical history you share on every instrument, no matter how obscure, is inspiring.

[@markkilianschannel]

Thank you my friend!!

[@intheblink]

Just discovered your channel. Really cool stuff! Looking forward to more videos.

[@markkilianschannel]

Thanks!!

[@HansJohnsonStudios]

You're so talented. I love your videos and music. Thank you for educating and entertaining us!
Is there any place streaming or selling the Tiger Tiger soundtrack?

[@kr3539]

The traditional instrument of the Luo people, brought down from Egypt.

[@LindaSchmidt1284]

Very cool to hear this Sparks !!

[@markkilianschannel]

Thanx Linnie!!

[@waylandharman2291]

Nicely done. Look forward to a video on the Mouth Bow.

[@markkilianschannel]

Wayland Harman Thanx mate. Me too:):)

[@KeizerHedorah]

Made of the finest quality sticks and fishing line.

[@rajeevk6576]

Great experience.

[@markkilianschannel]

Thanx!

[@arvindkirtikar1614]

Superb

[@markkilianschannel]

Cheers!

[@allanoyule5889]

theres no standard tuning for the nyatiti , the player tunes it to suit his vocal range ,

[@dagorettirecords5701]

E myxolidian would be a very unusual tuning for a nyatiti. I would be interested in where you came across that tuning for a Siaya style nyatiti. Most of the ones I have come across in Kenya are tuned E G (or G#) A B D with two A's and B's and an octave of an E. But you are correct, you can tune it how you like.

[@markkilianschannel]

Hi there. Thanks for your comments. Actually the notes of the mixolydian scale are E F# G# A B C# D E. In my research it seems that, as you point out, the most common tuning is E G# A B D E (not in that order.) So it really is the mixolydian but not using the F# or the C#. It seems some will lower the 3rd to a minor 3rd or G (as you said) and then also fairly common is to tune a half a tone up to the F mixolydian.

[@dagorettirecords5701]

@@markkilianschannel Mostly what I have seen (and what I use) is Em or Emaj pentatonic tuning, but the songs themselves are often in an ambiguous A (minus the third) and including the second (B).
The old dudes will often tune the A's a quarter step off each other, too.
Not to at all be annoyingly pedantic.

[@markkilianschannel]

@@dagorettirecords5701 Very good to know. Thanks for your info. Are you in Kenya?

[@dagorettirecords5701]

@@markkilianschannel I was. I am back in the US now. Still playing though.

[@dagorettirecords5701]

@@markkilianschannel If you are interested, here is our latest record.
drpetelarson.bandcamp.com/album/s-t