45 products
When the wind and the hands dance
The kalimba
The kalimba is a traditional African instrument, also known as sanza or mbira, which is originally native to the south of the continent. Either bamboo sticks or wood shavings were used for the reeds. Later, bicycle spokes, saw blades or other found objects were used for the tongues, which were attached to a resonant box. The tongues were tuned by moving them - the longer they were, the deeper the sound. In Africa there are very large boxes, or very small multi-manual ones with snares. Over time, hand-held instruments prevailed, allowing greater virtuosity and a faster playing technique. Bass instruments play more slowly because they resonate longer, but are still the bass in the ensemble. There are also instruments with buzzing rings above the reeds, which produce a "buzzing sound" and amplify the sound. There are also instruments with multiple manuals and up to 5 octaves, a masterpiece is the array mbira from San Diego, one of the craziest instruments I have ever seen and played.
The sansula
There are kalimbas with a resonance chamber, but there are also models that are simply built directly onto a block of wood. The crowning glory is the sansula, where the block is built on a skin and magical sounds can be produced. The small block kalimbas impress with their fine workmanship, high-quality and cleanly polished spring steel and fine tuning. There are calimbas ranging from 5-tone to 15 reeds, as well as two-manual models for playing in pairs. A wonderful gift for in between and 100% made in Europe/Germany. Preserve German craftsmanship, creativity and inventiveness.
The wind chimes
We deliberately focus on the small, handy wind chimes from the brands Koshi, Zaphir and Heola, as large wind chimes are often too loud for us, especially when exposed to the capricious wind. These wonderful sound boxes work in a similar way to kalimbas: thin bars are welded onto a plate and the length is tuned by shortening them. The protective cover made of cardboard, bamboo or aluminum also acts as an amplifier. The instrument is suspended from the upper end of the thread, while a sail hangs from the lower end, peeking out of the box at the bottom, which also absorbs the fine breeze to set the mallet in motion. Different melodies are available, and as soon as you have bought one, you often like a second one. Little magicians can change the mood of a room - or your own state of mind - in an instant. The three instruments Koshi, Zaphir and Heola are closely related and each has its own significance. Your purchase supports fine craftsmanship. So it's better to buy directly than via large internet portals.
Note on the selection
- Our kalimbas and wind chimes are characterized by quality craftsmanship, durability and aesthetic design.
- Support small craft businesses and enjoy high-quality, handmade instruments.