Mbira dzaVaNdau "Utee" type TIC 137 Utee type B from Chimanimani, Zimbabwe

Mbira dzaVaNdau "Utee" type: "TIC 137 Utee type"

Reference Key:	B (closest chromatic pitch)
Key Count:	30
Sound Info:	Buzzers dampened.
Maker:	unknown
Place Made:	Chimanimani, Zimbabwe
Made in:	1961
Comments:	Made from Mukwirambira wood, carved at back, zigzags and diamonds and poker worked, hollowed out to 5.5 cm, sides inward curving, slightly flaring. H: 17.5, max W: 17.3, depth 4.2 at bottom, 2 at top. Rattle plate held under a cross bar, 8 bottle tops. 30 keys in 3 ranks. Bamboo backrest. Support plate at back has triangular indentations Made to order for Andrew Tracey by a young worker at Hon. H. Amherst’s farm, Melsetter (now Chimanimani), May 1961. Hardwood, unusual for Ndau mbira. Mukwirambira wood. GWERURE was a song transcr for a sim type of mbira, from Mchekawaora, 31 July 1972, at Shora store Posto Rotanda, on road to Dombe, looking up at Chimanimani Mts. The Utee mbira has 5 extra bass notes on R side of keyboard. Pictured in HT article in African Music as No.14. Several left & right-hand keys which should be in unison are noticeably apart. Upper three notes (LU/RU1''-3'') synthesised from their octave counterparts.
Last known owner:	ILAM
Owner Contact:	Please get in touch.
Last known location:	Grahamstown, South Africa

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