Monday 29 December 2014
Tuesday 23 December 2014
ABC Wednesday, X for Xylophone
From 3rd November till 10th November my sister and I stayed in a holiday park in Hoenderloo in the province of Gelderland.
Every day we walked around in this park, looking for toad-stools. Several times we passed this xylophone, which was meant for children to play on.
The earliest evidence of a true xylophone is from the 9th century in southeast Asia, while a similar hanging wood instrument--a type of harmonicon--is said to have existed in 2000 BC in what is now part of China, according to the Vienna Symphonic Library. The xylophone-like ranat was used in Hindu regions (kashta tharang). Java and Bali use xylophones (called gambang) in gamelan ensembles. They still have traditional significance in Africa, Malaysia, Melanesia, Indonesia, Thailand, and regions of the Americas. The instrument was imported to South America by Africans, where it developed into the marimba.
Every day we walked around in this park, looking for toad-stools. Several times we passed this xylophone, which was meant for children to play on.
History
The instrument has obscure, ancient origins. According to Nettl, it originated in southeast Asia and came to Africa c. 500 AD when a group of Malayo-Polynesian speaking peoples migrated to Africa. One piece of evidence for this is the similarity between East African xylophone orchestras and Javanese and Balinese gamelan orchestras.The earliest evidence of a true xylophone is from the 9th century in southeast Asia, while a similar hanging wood instrument--a type of harmonicon--is said to have existed in 2000 BC in what is now part of China, according to the Vienna Symphonic Library. The xylophone-like ranat was used in Hindu regions (kashta tharang). Java and Bali use xylophones (called gambang) in gamelan ensembles. They still have traditional significance in Africa, Malaysia, Melanesia, Indonesia, Thailand, and regions of the Americas. The instrument was imported to South America by Africans, where it developed into the marimba.
We thank Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC, and we must thank Roger too for the weekly job to find ten bloggers for each of the ABC Team members to visit and to read their posts. For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar . This week we are looking for words beginning with X!
Tuesday 16 December 2014
ABC Wednesday, W for Waterfalls, Wood Nymph
Vøringfossen (2004) |
This summer I was in Norway, as I told you in my previous post.
For Dutch people Norway and other mountainous countries are very attractive . One of the main attractions is a waterfall. There were many of them in Norway.
One of the smaller falls we saw. |
Kjosfossen, |
There were "Huldra" at Kjosfossen where the train between Flåm and Myrdal halted.
Flåm
Flåm
When ever we stop here we can hear the strange singing of the huldra. The huldra or woodnymph has a very beautiful face and body, but at the back she has an ugly cow's tail.
Sometimes her back is hollow. She sings to seduce human males. She possesses cows which are either blue or grey. One could get hold of these cows if you threw a piece of steel over them.This way you could also get silver and table cloths.
The waterfall, which is called Kjosfossen, is in spring very impressive and always makes me think of the Holberg suite by Edward Grieg.
We thank Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC, and we must thank
Roger too for the weekly job to find ten bloggers for each of the ABC
Team members to visit
and to read their posts. For more interesting ABC posts click on the
logo
in the sidebar . This week we are looking for words beginning with W.
Tuesday 9 December 2014
ABC Wednesday, V for Viking Law
This last summer I was again in beautiful Norway. I read several books about the Vikings, because they were the guys who sailed all over the northern hemisphere and invaded our countries. There were at the time no human rights treaties and the actions of the Vikings were quite understandable if you read their laws, especially their first law: Be Brave and Aggressive!
I sincerely believe that they were law-abiding people! They were obedient to these rules! I, personally like the fourth law!
They left their traces like the jurisdiction in the UK! They also had a judge and jury in court like in Britain and the USA.
Their alphabet however is very complicated. See for your self and try to write a comment with these letters.
We thank Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC, and we must thank Roger too for the weekly job to find ten bloggers for each of the ABC Team members, to visit and to read their posts. For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar . This week we are looking for words beginning with V.
Labels:
ABC Wednesday,
Norway,
Scandinavia,
V,
Vikings
Tuesday 2 December 2014
ABC Wednesday, U for Undredal in Norway
Undredal
"The charming village of Undredal, which has a population of 80 people and 300 goats, is situated by the Aurlandsfjord. In the heart of the village is Scandinavia’s smallest stave church, built in 1147."
Undredal is well-known for its cheese production,especially for its white and brown goat cheese. www.visitundredal.no.
While we were sailing in the Aurlandsfjord we saw this village from a distance and I took some photos to remember this delightful place in its peaceful surroundings.
With thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC, and Roger, who took over from her. For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar. This week we are looking for words beginning with U.
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