Nuna whistles

Nuna Whistles uit Burkina Faso

En dan de muziek!!! Helemaal vergeten. Met hout kan je
een hoop muziek maken. Het merendeel van de
muziekinstrumenten in de wereld is tenslotte uit hout
vervaardigd. Voor gitaren gebruikt men o.a.
esdoorn-(maple), mahonie- en rozenhout. Er zijn
fluiten van ebbenhout.
Het zou mooi zijn om te weten wat voor houtsoorten
voor verschillende instrumenten worden gebruikt en
waarom. Heeft het met klankkleur of duurzaamheid te
maken? En met eigenschappen als veerkracht en
stijfheid?
Op zoek naar afbeeldingen kom ik de 'nuna whistle'
uit Burkina Fasso tegen. Prachtig houten instrument
dat grote culturele en religieuze betekenis blijkt te
hebben:

The Nuna Whistles: Burkina Faso
http://students.cdssh.org/artifacts05/group2/nuna.html

Wooden whistle
Musical instruments are used throughout Africa to
depict the wide range of various cultures. Music is
able to reveal the beauty and depth of African culture
in a way that only the rhythm, tone, and sound of the
instruments can describe. The wooden Nuna whistle,
traditionally found in Burkina Faso, is primarily
linked with ritualistic ceremonies. The whistle is
used in initiating new leaders and at funeral rites
because the music is an effective way of inspiring and
touching the hearts of many people.

Sound
The sound of the wooden whistle is often used in place
of oral communication since several whistles can
create an intense and wide range of tones. Western
cultures also use whistles as a signaling mechanism
for hunting and as a form of artistic expression. The
Western flute is often related to the whistles used in
Africa because they both achieve their sound
components by blowing air into the whistle and
stopping the flow of air through small holes on the
side of the object.

Religion
The sound produced by wooden whistles can also
coincide with the religious aspects of the culture,
awakening the presence of spirits. The music produced
by whistles and other instruments allows the African
culture to gain a spiritual connection that goes
beyond the physical world. The wooden Nuna whistle
delivers a melodious tone that is used as an
accompaniment for worship and prayer.

Dance
The Nuna whistles are also used for recreational
purposes. The music empowers the African people to
dance and put on performances for the entire community
to take part in. Music is something the entire
community can identify with; therefore, music brings a
sense of unity to the African culture. Instruments are
seen as cultural objects and, therefore, their
decorated appearance and ornamentation reflect the
country or culture of origin.

Cultural identity
The simple, clean-cut structure of the Nuna whistle parallels the lack of
resources and the economic poverty throughout Burkina
Faso. Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in
the world. In their society they do not have many
luxuries, and everything they make is used to serve a
purpose. The Nuna people of Burkina Faso embrace their
culture by creating musical instruments, such as the
Nuna whistle, that portrays their cultural identity.

Created By: Hilary and Anastasia
Contact Information:12@cdssh.org

Bibliography:
Hodges, Richard. "Music and Inner Life." Drum Is the
Ear of God: Africa's Inner World of Music. 1992. Far
West Press Organization. 27 Feb. 2005 .
Verderame, Lori . "Whistles." Beauty, Ritual, and
Culture. 26 Oct. 1999. Hicks Art Center . 27 Feb. 2005
. 27 Feb. 2005
"Whistles." Audible Artworks: Selected African Musical
Instruments. Smithsonian Institution. 27 Feb. 2005 .