The krar is a five- or six-stringed bowl-shaped lyre from Eritrea and Ethiopia . The instrument is tuned to a pentatonic scale. A modern krar may be amplified, much in the same way as an electric guitar or violin.

The krar, a chordophone, is usually decorated with wood, cloth, and beads. Its five or six strings determine the available pitches. The instrument's tone depends on the musician's playing technique: bowing, strumming or plucking. If plucked, the instrument will produce a soft tone. Strumming, on the other hand, will yield a harmonious pulsation. The krar is often played by musician-singers called azmari and accompanies love songs and secular songs, which makes it an enjoyable accompaniment to a cozy meal.

Contents 1 Resources 2 Bibliography 3 Films 4 See also

[edit] Resources

• Asnakech Worku, Ethiopiques 16: The Lady with the Krar (compact disc). Buda Musique 822652, 2003.
• Ethiopie, chants d'amour (Ethiopia, Love Songs). Fantahun Shewankochew, vocals and krar (compact disc). INEDIT/Maison des Cultures du Monde W260080, 1998.

[edit] Bibliography

• Kebede, Ashenafi, "The Bowl-Lyre of Northeast Africa. Krar: The Devil's Instrument", Ethnomusicology, Vol. 21, No. 3 (Sep., 1977), pp. 379-395. (Subscription link.)

[edit] Films

• HELP! – Musikalische Geschichten aus Äthiopien. Directed by Daniel Schulz.[1]

[edit] See also

• Begena
• Tanbura

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