Kora

The kora is a kind of African harp that I became aware of through a Canadian composer/performer named Daniel Janke. He wrote a piece for kora and gamelan degung, called Main Street. We first met when Evergreen Club was preparing to record his piece. I was intrigued to see how the instrument with strings made from fishing line is played.

Main Street sparked my interest in kora and it led me to Kaouding Cissoko‘s playing on Sleep Yanga.

Evergreen Club with Strings

Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan CD recording For There and Then features guest musicians who play a variety of string instruments. Harp, classical guitar, kacapi, electric guitar, and kora to be exact. I wrote the title track for electric guitar and gamelan, and I play the guitar part.

For There and Then, Bill Parsons