Sodina
Encyclopedia
A Sodina is a woodwind instrument
commonly played in Malagasy music and a member of the aerophone
family of instruments. Similar in structure and sound to a flute
, the sodina is made out of bamboo, lightwood, plastic, or reed and varies in size depending upon the region it is being played in.
Sodinas indigenous to Madagascar
are often found to have anywhere from three to six equidistant openings. Sodinas can be played solo or in a group of instruments, in which case it is accompanied by many flutes and a large drum.
Ethnomusicology researches point the origins of the Sodina in Southeast Asia Islands (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines) where one can still find today its bamboo form, known in Malay as suling
.
is known to has been The Grand Master of the Sodina in the XXth century.
Today, young Masters keep the tradition alive, which are, among the must known :
Seta Ramaroson
Rakoto Frah et Nicolas Vatomanga
Woodwind instrument
A woodwind instrument is a musical instrument which produces sound when the player blows air against a sharp edge or through a reed, causing the air within its resonator to vibrate...
commonly played in Malagasy music and a member of the aerophone
Aerophone
An aerophone is any musical instrument which produces sound primarily by causing a body of air to vibrate, without the use of strings or membranes, and without the vibration of the instrument itself adding considerably to the sound...
family of instruments. Similar in structure and sound to a flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, the sodina is made out of bamboo, lightwood, plastic, or reed and varies in size depending upon the region it is being played in.
Sodinas indigenous to Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
are often found to have anywhere from three to six equidistant openings. Sodinas can be played solo or in a group of instruments, in which case it is accompanied by many flutes and a large drum.
Ethnomusicology researches point the origins of the Sodina in Southeast Asia Islands (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines) where one can still find today its bamboo form, known in Malay as suling
Suling
A suling or Seruling is an Indonesian bamboo ring flute. It is used in gamelan ensembles.Depending on the regional genre, a suling can be tuned into different scales...
.
Sodina players
Rakoto FrahRakoto Frah
Philibert Rabezaoza Rakoto "Frah" was a flutist and composer of traditional Malagasy music. He was born in 1932 in the region of Antananarivo in Madagascar. He was recognized as the greatest flute player sodina during his lifetime and was an ambassador for the music of the highlands of Madagascar....
is known to has been The Grand Master of the Sodina in the XXth century.
Today, young Masters keep the tradition alive, which are, among the must known :
- The Rakoto Frah Zanany or Rakoto Frah Jr : a group of sodina player, composed by Rakoto Frah's sons.
- Seta Ramaroson : also a Jazz saxophonist.
- Nicolas VatomangaNicolas VatomangaNicolas Vatomanga Andrianaivo Rakotovao, known as Nicolas Vatomanga is a Malagasy saxophonist, flutist, bandleader and composer. His music combines elements of jazz, blues, and traditional musics of Madagascar, including: the hira gasy of the Centre, the beko from the South, and the salegy from the...
: also a Jazz saxophonist.
Discography
Rakoto Frah'- 1988 : Flute Master of Madagascar (Globestyle)
- 1988 : Souffles de Vie (Musikela)
- 1989 : The Art of Rakoto Frah & Randafison Sylvestre (Japon, JVCJVC, usually referred to as JVC, is a Japanese international consumer and professional electronics corporation based in Yokohama, Japan which was founded in 1927...
)
Seta Ramaroson
- 2004 : Introducing Vakoka : The Malagasy All Stars - World Music Network
Rakoto Frah et Nicolas Vatomanga
Nicolas Vatomanga
Nicolas Vatomanga Andrianaivo Rakotovao, known as Nicolas Vatomanga is a Malagasy saxophonist, flutist, bandleader and composer. His music combines elements of jazz, blues, and traditional musics of Madagascar, including: the hira gasy of the Centre, the beko from the South, and the salegy from the...
- 2000 : Chants et Danses en Imerina (ArionArionArion was a kitharode in ancient Greece, a Dionysiac poet credited with inventing the dithyramb: "As a literary composition for chorus dithyramb was the creation of Arion of Corinth," The islanders of Lesbos claimed him as their native son, but Arion found a patron in Periander, tyrant of Corinth...
) - 2001 : Madagascar pays Merina (ArionArionArion was a kitharode in ancient Greece, a Dionysiac poet credited with inventing the dithyramb: "As a literary composition for chorus dithyramb was the creation of Arion of Corinth," The islanders of Lesbos claimed him as their native son, but Arion found a patron in Periander, tyrant of Corinth...
)