The begena (or በገና in Amharic) know as Ethiopian harp is an Ethiopian string instrument with ten strings belonging to the family of the lyre. Advanced players use all ten strings to play the begena, while other players may use five or six of the strings. According to oral tradition, Menelik I brought the instrument to the region from Israel, where David played on it to soothe King Saul's nerves and heal him of insomnia.
As David played it to soothe King Saul's nerves and heal him of insomnia, Begena's twanging buzz of the strings and mellow rhythm of the chant have the power to calm and soothe anyone. According to the sacred book of the Bible, 1 Samuel 16:23 Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David now stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.".
Instrument of noblemen, monks and the upper class and performed by both men and women the begena generated a soothing sound that was traditionally used for meditation and prayer, making it a spiritual instrument.
The begena is characterized by a very specific buzzing sound, due to U-shaped leather pieces placed between each string and the bridge. The thong for each string is adjusted up or down along the bridge so that the string, when plucked, repeatedly vibrates against the edge of the bridge. The strings of the begena are made from animal intestines that are cleaned until all that remains is the fiber. Fibers that becomes ties to the soul of humanity.
The begena may also be played using a system called girf. wherein a plectrum made of horn or wood is used to pluck the ten strings of the begena. Advance players pay begena both by using his fingertips and girf.
In 1972, the Yared Music School in Addis Ababa began formal instruction in the begena. Since 2004, evening courses are organized and the begena is still played. The Orthodox Churches in Ethiopian are dedicated to teaching the new generation how to play this spiritual instrument.
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