￥This second instrumental pack in Splice Sessions: Senegal features the kora, a strikingly beautiful lute-bridge harp instrument synonymous with the culture of West Africa. The sound of a kora resembles that of a harp. Though when played in the traditional style, its sounds bear a closer resemblance to flamenco and Delta blues guitar techniques.

 

Both hands are used to pluck the strings in polyrhythmic patterns while the remaining fingers secure the instrument by holding the hand posts on either side of the strings. Ostinato riffs (“Kumbengo”) and improvised solo runs (“Birimintingo”) are played at the same time by skilled players.

 

For this pack, kora player Edouard Manga (who performs as Edou Kora) met up with As Malick Diouf on guitar and Django Diabate on ngoni at LaBoutique Studio in Dakar. In crafting these sounds, they improvised loops in various folk styles. You’ll also find one-shots in various keys.