The Lamellophone

lamellophone

A lamellophone (also lamellaphone or linguaphone) from the Latin root ‘lingua’ meaning “tongue”, i.e., a long thin plate that is fixed only at one end) is any of a family of musical instruments. The name comes from the Latin word “lamella” for “plate” and the Greek root “phonos” for “sound”. The name derives from the way the sound is produced: the instrument has a series of thin plates, or “tongues”, each of which is fixed at one end and has the other end free. When the musician depresses the free end of a plate with a finger or fingernail, and then allows the finger to slip off, the released plate vibrates. A large number of lamellophones originate in Africa, where they are known under different names including mbira, sanza, kisanji, likembe, kalimba, and kongoma. They play an important role in southeast African Music. They were reported as early as the 16th century, but there is no doubt they have a much longer history. Some conjecture that African lamellophones were derived from xylophones and marimbas. However, similar instruments have been found elsewhere; for example, the indigenous peoples of Siberia play wooden and metallic lamellophones with a single tongue. Lamellophones may be made with or without resonators. There are also electric lamellophones with an additional pickup.