Muda Magaya: Nhemamusasa Yekutanga / Yepasi - Mbira Video Lessons
Learn how to play mbira with Muda Magaya : Nhemamusasa Yekutanga / Yepasi* video lessons
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Two video tutorials to help you learn the traditional mbira song, Nhemamusasa Yekutanga / Yepasi*
In the first video Muda teaches various kushaura and kutsinhira parts, with and without highlines
In the second video he demonstrates them together with his playing partner, Kudakwashe Sikalela
Variations in these videos match best with Mbira Chord Progression 5
*'Yepasi' is Forward Kwenda's preferred name for this version of the song. He says that the name, 'Ye-Pasi' in this context means 'Of-The Ground', which refers to the ground in which the ancestors are buried, and argues that this is a more ancient version of the song most people know of as nhemamusasa.
In support of Forward's argument - Nhemamusasa typically corresponds with Progression 4, while this song fits with the much rarer Progression 5. If we look at older kalimbas/karimbas (with no 'L' in Shona, 'R' is often substituted), whose core layout is central to that of the mbira dzavadzimu, we see that the fourth scale degree is missing (making it harder to express Chord 4 clearly), while all roots and fifths (the preferred note choices in this style of music) are present for every chord in progression 5.
Nhemamusasa Yekutanga / Yepasi - mbira video lesson 1 with Muda Magaya
Nhemamusasa Yekutanga / Yepasi - mbira video lesson 2 with Muda Magaya
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