It's tough to describe it, but there's something really chill and nice about these video's. Just sitting down with the musician and chatting about their instrument whilst jamming some. Makes it feel like you're almost there with them.
I think that's in part due to Rob's very real interest and curiosity surrounding these instruments he knows nothing about. It's pure passion, and I love it.
I somehow really know what you mean. I feel good and nice and calm after watching these videos, something so grounded and real ans beautiful about the interactions and moments
Keep in mind that Kora tunings, techniques and traditions can be very varied depending on the country and people, it's often passed down orally, so I'd advise you to talk to many different Kora players to get a fuller picture of the instrument
as with all traditional folk music, there is no one way to play any song, each area and even each town, possibly each and every musician, all have their own different ways of playing, and all are equally legitimate. it's a very different way of thinking to our modern assumption that there is one definitive or correct version of any song or instrument. this is how culture evolves and becomes interesting.
I'd say this was a snapshot, you can say the same about guitar, would be cool to do a deeper dive into the instrument but I wonder if Rob would have access to many different kora players.
a lot of the comments are about rob on here (understandably) but can we please take a second to appreciate and acknowledge how nice, kind hearted and talented salieu is, an absolute wonder of a gentleman, so polite and full of smiles big thank you to salieu for this 🇬🇲❤️
Maybe I'm just extra emotional atm or something, but this video legitimately made me cry. The sheer joy and intimate connection that two people from totally different backgrounds who've never met before can have through music really is amazing.
What I love about Rob is he immediately tries different things with any instrument he gets his hands on. And there's a 50/50 chance the master has never seen some try that different way of playing their instrument. Its just amazing how music speaks through musicians universally
@@lilstinker1949 "Yeah, I’m sure the masters have never heard overwritten Midwest emo riffs with no structure before" Who hurt you? It's gonna be fine, trust me. Chill.
Ditto, I love this video and the one with the organ, heck any of these types of videos I'm here for. And I love Robs excitement about these instruments as well.
I always loved his skits but I'm REALLY loving this more experimental, explorative direction he's taken. Really enjoyed learning about the instruments he's featured on here
As a guitarist, I have the same cheesy smile listening to cool string instrument that i haven’t heard before, same as Rob. Its like we are kids again and brings me back to first hearing a really good guitar player. I hope Rob keeps bringing on more masters.
Be sure to check out Toumani Diabate! (Mali) i also recommend not missing Sona Jobarteh. There is an absolutely amazing live rendition of a song Toumani does with his son, who makes use of a wah wah pedal - Lampedusa. Jarabi is another lovely song for starters.
it's been my goal to get a theorbo since the Brandon guy showed off his foldable one he had built - I live where good wood is very available and reasonably priced, if I had the skills it's not a question of materials for me to build one. There are cabinet makers that could follow a drawing around here, that's how Peavey made all their instruments - Hartley only worked on the guts, Chip Todd and others worked on the husks. Now all I need are 10 orders for collapsible theorbos and I can probably convince someone to do the neck split, at least. ;-) More related, I'm working on a mycelium based natural replacement for gut type strings that will likely improve on most or all aspects of traditional gut - so no more harvesting from animals just to make the strings that we really want for the older traditional/folk instruments.
I really hope Rob releases a world music album with all these different experts, each track showing of the particular instrument with Rob playing guitar alongside them.
@@artemesaulkov2010 Europe is part of the world. The theorbo and hurdy gurdy are European, the koto is Japanese, the kora is Gambian, the mouth harp is…no clue, but they are all instruments from around the world.
A good kora player, like this gentleman, sounds like a sparkling drizzle of rain on a very hot day. So free flowing, cool and melodic. And we can sense the roots of jazz and blues in his music. As well as the links to modern desert blues à la Tinariwen. West African music is a treasure.
Stop lying. My people invented jazz blues and everything else white people are the"experts" on. Our music has nothing to do with Africa,per se. Our music is American because unbeknownst to white people, Black people are indigenous to the whole world, not just Africa. Do you really think that there were Black people everywhere except the Americas? Who do you think built the pyramids in the Americas? Are you aware that they are older than the pyramids in Egypt? Are you aware that the Americas are the old world? nonBlack people should really stop trying to explain things that have nothing to do with their culture. That's my culture,it doesn't belong to everybody, because everybody did not suffer the killing fields of American slavery.
@@seanmcgonicigle_121 Ireland has been historically separated. Yeah there were high kings and such but their rule was loose and would shatter almost immediately after they died. In the era of ancient Rome, before the high kings, and what we consider "ancient", there were multiple populations in the British isles, from the Celts to the Beaker peoples. And with the language, Irish was the most spoken language in Ireland, I'd wager up until the mid-late 19th century.
This is exactly why Rob Scallon is one of the best creators on the platform. He's been around for quite some time and yet still manages to be different and entertain us all. From the old battles with Davie504, his original music, the unconventional metal covers, etc.. Your creativity and dedication to this channel is very much appreciated. 👏👏
I love the way this instrument was engineered. The way it’s tuned, the rods to keep your hands in position, the orientation of the strings… being without precision tools equipment etc. to build this instrument whenever it was originally conceived is really impressive.
The song 'Some ppl do & some don't.Some will some won't.Some of those know,what they want to do,where they want to go!blah blah, ho ho,nah nah,no no.Lol simple African songs from the Motherland that says alot. However,Rob Scallon plays the Gambian-Kora, alot like a Guitar & a Harp mixed in the same melodic composition.He's been jumpin around different countries,on all sorts of indifferent instruments.Its no-wonder how he can get on such an exotic instrument, and just emidiately, by experience,from being seasoned thru fast string technique,quick -n-impressively Rocked it!!Great upload!! Keep up the great work.
These videos really highlight the important difference between "*show* me your instrument" and "I want to *learn* about your instrument". I feel like the musicians pick up on that difference and their passion shines through wonderfully.
The Kora is so chill and relaxing. Reminds me of the Kokle, the Latvian traditional lute. Similarly calming and relaxing. I also love the idea of the "first song" for the instrument, passed down from teacher to student. That kind of tradition with an instrument and musical culture is amazing!
My father bought me one of these on a vacation to the Gambia. Pretty difficult to play, always wondered what it's worth. Plays like a video game. Rob if you want it you can have it lol just pay the shipping.
My favourite part of these videos is watching the low key amazement on the guest’s faces when Rob picks up their unique instrument and starts playing with skill within a few minutes
There's something beautiful to me about the fact that this version of a generations-old instrument full of the heritage and knowledge of many teachers passed down to their students just has a modern plastic clip on it. That's amazing, seeing a culture survive so long.
LRED13 , Sure it does, however, I can speculate that the Lute can't play the lowest octave that this Kora can emit. Either way, it is a most intriguing musical instrument. Good day.😊
when my parents heard his jam on the sitar, they were confused (almost disgusted), because it wasn't 'sitar music'. But Rob really is just purely curious - he doesn't pretend he knows or is teaching anything about the culture. He doesn't play stereotypical music of the instruments that he picks up, and he just wants to jam.
@@purplelord8531 "... they were confused (almost disgusted), because it wasn't 'sitar music'." Do people just like limitations so things can stick to a label? How would you ever make progress this way? And if i play mozart on PVC pipes it's still music and can be beautiful.
@@eigengrau7698 I'm getting somewhat good on the kalimba, I Iove this thing. But if someone were to complain about me not playing "kalimba music" i would have no idea what i should do with this information... :D
First of all the African continent consists of 54 different countries - generalizing a person (of whom you don't even know where they are from) into being "African" is so fucking racist and a continuation of colonialism.
You can see the Joy light up in his face when he tries the gentleman's instrument. This is what I wish every HUMAN to experience at least once. Sound and vibration and letting it flow through you is a miracle beyond even what is after this life. ✨️ Love you all, and please 🙏🏽 please remember you are here, in this moment, alive and breathing. What a gift this is to be just that. Love you
Nice someone who says "hugs" like in my country (Brazil) haha I heard it's sounds weird for english native speakers but in our countries probably have the same meaning of something like "take care" but more "fisical" 🙂
I’ve honestly never heard of a Kora before. But I’m so in love with the way it resonates. It just makes me feel like laying under a tree and taking a nap. Super relaxing.
What a beautiful sound. It was especially interesting hearing him talk about being in conversation with the instrument itself, it really spoke to the respect he has for his instrument and the music.
If you are interested to learn more, he is a griot. This is the tradition where one does not become a musician as such but is born into a pre-existing tradition. The kora playing is handed down from parent to child - you cannot become a griot, only be born one. The kora is representative of direct ancestral comnection. While song can also be involved, if i'm not mistaken, there can also be associated elements of storytelling. And there is a renowned female griot, also from the Gambia, i think, by the name of Sona Jobarteh. Toumani Diabate from Mali is also a maestro not to be missed.
What I love about Rob is his desire to learn more and more about instruments that are considered unusual to many in our country. Some of them are old, and some of them are new. He always seeks to learn not only how to play the instrument or what it's used for, but also its story. Where it came from. What It means to many people in the originating country, and how it has an impact not only on their country and lives but the world itself.
I played in a band playing West African drum music and rhythms for 10 years when I was a child. Our band leader, Gildas, was from Benin. We visited his home town for two weeks, and listening to this video really took me back to those sceneries. I'm sure the music from Gambia is very different, but to a relative outsider, especially the beautiful singing did remind me of the songs I heard in Benin. Lovely video!
Yeah. Also it's nice because they play each other's instrument like playing their own. Rob plays the kora like a guitar (Kinda) and Salieu plays the guitar like a kora (also Kinda). It's a given, but still pretty cool.
I found out about the kora through the wonderful music of Ballake Sissoko through the *master* of desert blues Ali Farka Toure. Malian music has become one of my favourite things to listen to in the last year. So glad such a great instrument is getting some recognition,
I agree with you. It's an amazing instrument. I also love listening to Toumani Diabaté. He and Ali Farka Touré have an album called "Ali and Toumani", I bet you've already listened to it. All the best to you.
Yes! If you haven't heard him, his son Vieux Farka Toure is absolutely fantastic as well. I had the great fortune to meet him around 15 years ago or so. The kora is such a beautiful instrument, music from this region is some of the best on the planet!
@@127Kronos i adore Toumani Diabate and i love the interplay between him and Ali Farka Touré. By the way, have you seen Kronos bu Guillermo del Toro? (:
I worked in The Gambia back in 2016. This makes me so nostalgic!! The kora master here exemplifies the calm, welcoming, smiling nature of the Gambian people. I love to see this! collab with him in the future please!!
When they are jamming together, it becomes super apparent how music can be a great uniting force; even across massively different cultural backgrounds! Great video, Rob!
I love how these both gentlemen are bringing the exact positive vibes needed in a musical ambience... absolute calmness and frequent smiles... I don't know..maybe I am over wording it but that is exactly how I felt... loved it. And the hymn that Kora brings... eternal peace.
Seeing new stuff and rediscovering the world makes us feel represented, even if we arent the people in the video nor from the same culture. I get the same feeling
I've loved kora music ever since I heard a great man named Malang Jorbateh playing in the subway one day when I was young. I saw him several times after that, always with a smile on his face, despite the subway stink and heat. It's a beautiful instrument and west African music should be appreciated by everyone!
This is one of the most beautiful musical moments I have ever personally seen captured. When you were both singing and playing together in different languages, it furthermore shows music's incredible ability to bring us all together.
I get what you are trying to suggest. Just a shame to use the word soul which describes something not real. Maybe "speaks to the inner mind" or directly to the sub-conscious.
@@VestigialHead Why do you feel like you must talk down to this person for using a word that you don't like? You may call it what you like, but please don't insult people for their interpretation or choice of words. We are peacefully describing our feelings of music, don't be a sour note.
The fact that there has been an unbroken chain of father-son tutelage of playing this instrument for millennia tells us this instrument instills a kind of mystical level of success in people throughout eons.
A cross between a guitar and a standing harp. In both appearance and in sound. Fell in love with the sound when heard it on one track on an album of music from all over Africa in the Sixties.
I've fallen in love with every instrument you've had on your channel, with this being no exception. Seeing all the different instruments and the amazingly wide array of sounds thats all wholly unique to each of them is something I live for now lmao
The pure joy in Rob’s face, just watching this absolute god play one of the most beautiful instruments ever created. I love it! Keep up the amazing work! I always love getting to see the musical side of other cultures around the world.
I'm from California and was introduced to kora music by listening to artists like Seckou Keita and Mamadou Diabaté. It may be one of my favorite instruments ever, so this video makes me happy. I like how Rob compared it to Open D tuning since I used that to write my first song.
Some Mexican folk music includes the harp as an instrument and the compositions sound eeriely similar to what Salieu was playing. Crazy to think how much influence African music has all over the continent.
He really isn't called a master for no reason, he's amazingly fast and accurate in his playing. Like the masterful strike of a Kingfisher swooping at its prey from overhead.
Another beautiful video of beautiful instruments and the beautiful people that play them. These always take me someplace else and it feels fantastic every time. Thank you Rob. Thank you Salieu.
That Kora sounds amazing. It always trips me out with you that within minutes of picking up a completely foreign instrument you can produce beautiful music. That jam on the F Kora was really great. I know you’re playing in an untraditional manner, but it was working.
The kora is a sublime instrument. Thanks for introducing people to it! There is a female griot - Sona Jobarteh. Anyone who enjoys this instrument should ensure they don't miss Toumani Diabate, the renowned kora maestro from Mali. Peace! 🐢💜
How can you not grin watching this? Thanks for tapping into the beautiful, uniquely human universality of music. The kora is so expressive and beautiful.
Hey Rob! I absolutely love these videos and I seriously can't get enough of seeing you try out completely new instruments like this! As a Canadian with Inuit background, I'm curious if you'd ever try a tautirut (Inuit fiddle like instrument) or a qilaut (large animal skin and bone drum) Or both!
if you want him to, you should probably find an artist who plays one online, and then ask him to play (the tautirut) with (that artist), not that I'd knkow.
I'm from quebec city and i'm not in inuit regions, so do you know if the tautirut is common in those area cause i've seen not much information on the internet even with many hour of research just a couple of pictures and 2 recording
Please never stop making videos like these. It's is one of my absolute favorite series on here, and I can't get enough new knowledge on other instruments like this. I have binged all of them several times now lol. It's just awesome to learn about instruments I know nothing about. So much so that I'd say that you could make amazing videos exactly like this but with even more common instruments like a trumpet or sax. As a strings player, horns in general are totally alien to me in how they're really played, and I could imagine the other side of that is true with some horn players not knowing much about string instruments. Point is, this series could be the encyclopedia of tons of great instruments. Musicians like myself love every single second of these vids.
My favorite video so far, the love is amazing. If you can not see that we are all brothers and sisters after watching this I don't know what to say. This was simply so beautiful to watch and listen to. The Kora sounds amazing and you both have so much talent.
I saw a man playing this instrument in the Animal Kingdom in Disney and I was amazed and enamored! I love the sound. The techniques he used to play that created so many different sounds and their functions was amazing to watch. Can’t believe I never had seen or heard of the Kora until now! Love the sound.
I saw the same around the end of may, right after this video came out. I had a new appreciation for it, I had to stop my group to listen to a few songs. Thankfully we were all band folks and we all enjoyed it
I'm a 72 yr old red neck from the mid west who plays guitar and banjo .the sound from this instrument moves something inside of me the same way bagpipes do. Thanks to both of you for making my day
Rob really teaches all of us how to have a true love and understanding of music and cultures all over the world. It's amazing, and one of the reasons I love this channel
I love the look of this instrument. It looks so improvised. Body of wood and animal skin, strings of nylon, anchored with paracord which is tied to what appers to be a ring made from rebar. Shows that you don't need fancy materials to make something that sounds beautiful.
Always amazed whenever I see these traditional instruments. Just multiplies my love for music by at least 10 times! Really appreciate Rob for making the series dedicated on these kind of instruments! Thanks for the Music!
I don't even play an instrument but I love seeing the cool things Rob shows us. All the interesting culture and sounds that come from these discoveries is fantastic.
It's tough to describe it, but there's something really chill and nice about these video's. Just sitting down with the musician and chatting about their instrument whilst jamming some. Makes it feel like you're almost there with them.
I think that's in part due to Rob's very real interest and curiosity surrounding these instruments he knows nothing about. It's pure passion, and I love it.
I like to think that sitting on the floor is a critical part of this video
Quite exactly the reason I became a Patron. Love Robs passion and genuine interest in music, instruments and people 😍
I somehow really know what you mean. I feel good and nice and calm after watching these videos, something so grounded and real ans beautiful about the interactions and moments
Exactly, it's an incredible feeling, really relaxing
This guy is so chill. And what a cool instrument. Think this is the African equivalent to the harp
Скорее на гусли похоже.
Two sided harp, with a drum resonator instead of a soundboard.
Or maybe the harp is the European equivalent to the Kora
"Plays beautiful calming music" that was a warsong. Lol. Yeah it is a super chill and beauty sounding instrument.
if he had slides he could play the blues on it, the strings are very close together.
Keep in mind that Kora tunings, techniques and traditions can be very varied depending on the country and people, it's often passed down orally, so I'd advise you to talk to many different Kora players to get a fuller picture of the instrument
Astute comment.
I'd advise he interview more Kora players, as well.
as with all traditional folk music, there is no one way to play any song, each area and even each town, possibly each and every musician, all have their own different ways of playing, and all are equally legitimate. it's a very different way of thinking to our modern assumption that there is one definitive or correct version of any song or instrument. this is how culture evolves and becomes interesting.
I'd say this was a snapshot, you can say the same about guitar, would be cool to do a deeper dive into the instrument but I wonder if Rob would have access to many different kora players.
@@gramursowanfaborden5820 they're kind of like jazz standards. Same with folk music in Europe
a lot of the comments are about rob on here (understandably) but can we please take a second to appreciate and acknowledge how nice, kind hearted and talented salieu is, an absolute wonder of a gentleman, so polite and full of smiles
big thank you to salieu for this 🇬🇲❤️
Made a guitar sound nicer than me my first time
C'est cela, l'abrutissement du leucoderme qui se croit tellement supérieur que sa condescendance l'aveugle sur la réalité des choses.
Maybe I'm just extra emotional atm or something, but this video legitimately made me cry. The sheer joy and intimate connection that two people from totally different backgrounds who've never met before can have through music really is amazing.
Music is such a better language than words
Woman.. lol
music is certainly the universal language. I don't speak Swedish or Chinese, but i enjoy/appreciate them just as much.
I feel bad for people who don't understand how this could move you to tears. It did for Me too!
@@ChronoMune Try ordering food with music.
What I love about Rob is he immediately tries different things with any instrument he gets his hands on. And there's a 50/50 chance the master has never seen some try that different way of playing their instrument. Its just amazing how music speaks through musicians universally
Yeah, I’m sure the masters have never heard overwritten Midwest emo riffs with no structure before
@@lilstinker1949 "Yeah, I’m sure the masters have never heard overwritten Midwest emo riffs with no structure before"
Who hurt you? It's gonna be fine, trust me. Chill.
@@lilstinker1949 I also go to yt channels of people I don't like so I can make smarmy comments 🙄
@@lilstinker1949 are you lost?
That’s true. Most haven’t
I love how Rob's channel has transitioned into exploring different instruments from all the world... I'm 100% here for it!!
It's really exciting to me as someone who doesn't play music myself. The part I love is learning about things, other cultures.
@@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 Exactly. That's why I love learning new things to cook, the variety and the culture that is learned along the way.
Ditto, I love this video and the one with the organ, heck any of these types of videos I'm here for. And I love Robs excitement about these instruments as well.
Yes!
I always loved his skits but I'm REALLY loving this more experimental, explorative direction he's taken. Really enjoyed learning about the instruments he's featured on here
As a guitarist, I have the same cheesy smile listening to cool string instrument that i haven’t heard before, same as Rob. Its like we are kids again and brings me back to first hearing a really good guitar player. I hope Rob keeps bringing on
more masters.
Be sure to check out Toumani Diabate! (Mali) i also recommend not missing Sona Jobarteh. There is an absolutely amazing live rendition of a song Toumani does with his son, who makes use of a wah wah pedal - Lampedusa. Jarabi is another lovely song for starters.
it's been my goal to get a theorbo since the Brandon guy showed off his foldable one he had built - I live where good wood is very available and reasonably priced, if I had the skills it's not a question of materials for me to build one. There are cabinet makers that could follow a drawing around here, that's how Peavey made all their instruments - Hartley only worked on the guts, Chip Todd and others worked on the husks.
Now all I need are 10 orders for collapsible theorbos and I can probably convince someone to do the neck split, at least. ;-)
More related, I'm working on a mycelium based natural replacement for gut type strings that will likely improve on most or all aspects of traditional gut - so no more harvesting from animals just to make the strings that we really want for the older traditional/folk instruments.
@@russellzauner that sounds pretty awesome, could you let me know how that's going and where I could check these out?
There’s nothing cheesy about a genuine smile. Being too cool for school is cheesy. But so is school.
The riffs this guy is playing on the kora could make a killer midwest emo song.
The Kora is arguably one of the most beautiful instruments, the sound is incredible.
The descriptor I keep coming back to for the sound is "cheerful". Like it just makes me happy.
No it is not. It,s really disgusting.
Arguably is an understatement.
@@tribestribes2555 lol why
@@tribestribes2555 JEALOUS much🤣🤣🤣🤣
I love how rob can basically pick up anything and make it sound decent, even if it’s not the “correct” way to play it
But will it djent? That is the question
Most people could play this instrument pretty well at first try
If only everyone were as kind and generous as you, calling that sound he was making, "decent".
@@PlatinumSpoons if it plays it djents
@@uncomfortableshirt not really
I really hope Rob releases a world music album with all these different experts, each track showing of the particular instrument with Rob playing guitar alongside them.
I would shell out money for an actual copy of such an album.
Why do people always refer to non european music as “world”
@@artemesaulkov2010 I think they were talking about instruments from all around the world, if anything was "world" music it'd be that album.
@@artemesaulkov2010 Europe is part of the world. The theorbo and hurdy gurdy are European, the koto is Japanese, the kora is Gambian, the mouth harp is…no clue, but they are all instruments from around the world.
like California's Voices of Africa
9:50 Rob instantly tries to play the Kora as a guitar while Salieu instantly tries to play the guitar as a Kora
A good kora player, like this gentleman, sounds like a sparkling drizzle of rain on a very hot day. So free flowing, cool and melodic. And we can sense the roots of jazz and blues in his music. As well as the links to modern desert blues à la Tinariwen. West African music is a treasure.
A sparkling drizzle of rain on a very hot day... what a beautiful way to describe such a sound.
Stop lying. My people invented jazz blues and everything else white people are the"experts" on. Our music has nothing to do with Africa,per se. Our music is American because unbeknownst to white people, Black people are indigenous to the whole world, not just Africa. Do you really think that there were Black people everywhere except the Americas? Who do you think built the pyramids in the Americas? Are you aware that they are older than the pyramids in Egypt? Are you aware that the Americas are the old world? nonBlack people should really stop trying to explain things that have nothing to do with their culture. That's my culture,it doesn't belong to everybody, because everybody did not suffer the killing fields of American slavery.
Yep! It's just missing the generations of slavery, jim crow era, and other cultural decimations.
Fucking sick way to describe it, major facts
It sounds Celtic to me, but that's probably just the open D tuning.
The kora just seems like the happiest instrument with such a light and harmonious tone. The guy also seems awesome.
Reminds me of irish folk music; beautiful singing accompanied by simple major scales played with great skill, confidence, and emotion.
Africans were in ancient Ireland so there you go
@@hiyahiy what do you mean by ancient Ireland
@@irishakita basically back when ireland was all 1 country and was spoken in all Irish.
@@seanmcgonicigle_121 Ireland has been historically separated. Yeah there were high kings and such but their rule was loose and would shatter almost immediately after they died. In the era of ancient Rome, before the high kings, and what we consider "ancient", there were multiple populations in the British isles, from the Celts to the Beaker peoples. And with the language, Irish was the most spoken language in Ireland, I'd wager up until the mid-late 19th century.
@@irishakita thank you for your history lesson.
This is exactly why Rob Scallon is one of the best creators on the platform. He's been around for quite some time and yet still manages to be different and entertain us all. From the old battles with Davie504, his original music, the unconventional metal covers, etc.. Your creativity and dedication to this channel is very much appreciated. 👏👏
its because he collabs all the time. That is the best content.
I remember when he only spoke djent.
it is boring
I love the way this instrument was engineered. The way it’s tuned, the rods to keep your hands in position, the orientation of the strings… being without precision tools equipment etc. to build this instrument whenever it was originally conceived is really impressive.
Definitely a feat of engineering. Africa has mastered like no others the use of animal skins in developing instruments
@@collinbeal They have had a long time to do perfect it! We are all from there after all.
The song 'Some ppl do & some don't.Some will some won't.Some of those know,what they want to do,where they want to go!blah blah, ho ho,nah nah,no no.Lol simple African songs from the Motherland that says alot. However,Rob Scallon plays the Gambian-Kora, alot like a Guitar & a Harp mixed in the same melodic composition.He's been jumpin around different countries,on all sorts of indifferent instruments.Its no-wonder how he can get on such an exotic instrument, and just emidiately, by experience,from being seasoned thru fast string technique,quick -n-impressively Rocked it!!Great upload!! Keep up the great work.
Watching two musicians swap instruments and have a coherent jam session playing that which they have never before is nothing short of mesmerizing.
These videos really highlight the important difference between "*show* me your instrument" and "I want to *learn* about your instrument".
I feel like the musicians pick up on that difference and their passion shines through wonderfully.
The Kora is so chill and relaxing. Reminds me of the Kokle, the Latvian traditional lute. Similarly calming and relaxing.
I also love the idea of the "first song" for the instrument, passed down from teacher to student. That kind of tradition with an instrument and musical culture is amazing!
Ive heard that the kokle is a popular instrument in the gay community.
My father bought me one of these on a vacation to the Gambia. Pretty difficult to play, always wondered what it's worth. Plays like a video game. Rob if you want it you can have it lol just pay the shipping.
GET THIS NOTICED- i want to see him play one more
Ship it to him anyways lol!
I'd take it. I already play
What a generous offer! Very cool of you.
Hopefully it's still in good enough condition, these kinds of skin instruments can suffer from drying out and or high moisture.
The passage around 14:10 "some know something, some don't know" with the voices harmonized at the 3rd was rad !!
I'm still singing it myself, it's just a magical happy song.
Yeah definitely want that as a song
It's so beautiful, what a lovely tune.
imma need that in a full track
Music really is the universal language
I’m Gambian and I’m trying to learning the Cora 💗it’s pretty cool seeing this
Yes 🥰
All the best 👍
Don't bother. It's very challenging
@@hiyahiy I’ve already started working on it. It’s more challenging if u have that mindset.
@@hiyahiy This mindset can be self destructive, be careful with it!
My favourite part of these videos is watching the low key amazement on the guest’s faces when Rob picks up their unique instrument and starts playing with skill within a few minutes
There's something beautiful to me about the fact that this version of a generations-old instrument full of the heritage and knowledge of many teachers passed down to their students just has a modern plastic clip on it. That's amazing, seeing a culture survive so long.
That sound is mesmerizing. Thanks for sharing!
Tbh it just sounds like a lute
LRED13 , Sure it does, however, I can speculate that the Lute can't play the lowest octave that this Kora can emit. Either way, it is a most intriguing musical instrument. Good day.😊
@@lred1383 no it doesn't, man. Go and listen to Toumani Diabate. This is a demonstration. It's much closer to a harp in terms of its resonance.
One thing I’ve always loved about your channel, Rob, is your respect for non western instruments.
when my parents heard his jam on the sitar, they were confused (almost disgusted), because it wasn't 'sitar music'. But Rob really is just purely curious - he doesn't pretend he knows or is teaching anything about the culture. He doesn't play stereotypical music of the instruments that he picks up, and he just wants to jam.
@@purplelord8531 "... they were confused (almost disgusted), because it wasn't 'sitar music'."
Do people just like limitations so things can stick to a label? How would you ever make progress this way?
And if i play mozart on PVC pipes it's still music and can be beautiful.
Agreed.
@@chrisakaschulbus4903 maybe because they were too accustomed to the sound it makes, thus creates the stereotype?
@@eigengrau7698 I'm getting somewhat good on the kalimba, I Iove this thing.
But if someone were to complain about me not playing "kalimba music" i would have no idea what i should do with this information... :D
The African dude goes right to the most awesome syncopated rhythms. I absolutely dig it.
Most african music is like that yeap, must be so natural to him :)
First of all the African continent consists of 54 different countries - generalizing a person (of whom you don't even know where they are from) into being "African" is so fucking racist and a continuation of colonialism.
Lightness or heart music floats like dove.....🕊 🎶 ❤️
You can see the Joy light up in his face when he tries the gentleman's instrument. This is what I wish every HUMAN to experience at least once. Sound and vibration and letting it flow through you is a miracle beyond even what is after this life. ✨️ Love you all, and please 🙏🏽 please remember you are here, in this moment, alive and breathing. What a gift this is to be just that. Love you
wowww I love this video! Wonderful wounds you both got from it, it's amazing. Hugs from Seville!
Sí Paola.. Qué maravillosas "heridas" les otorgó el instrumento!😆
Nice someone who says "hugs" like in my country (Brazil) haha I heard it's sounds weird for english native speakers but in our countries probably have the same meaning of something like "take care" but more "fisical" 🙂
I’ve honestly never heard of a Kora before. But I’m so in love with the way it resonates. It just makes me feel like laying under a tree and taking a nap. Super relaxing.
go and hear ali farka toure, listen to talking timbuktu album. the guy's from Mali but the sounds are really similar
What a beautiful sound. It was especially interesting hearing him talk about being in conversation with the instrument itself, it really spoke to the respect he has for his instrument and the music.
If you are interested to learn more, he is a griot. This is the tradition where one does not become a musician as such but is born into a pre-existing tradition. The kora playing is handed down from parent to child - you cannot become a griot, only be born one. The kora is representative of direct ancestral comnection. While song can also be involved, if i'm not mistaken, there can also be associated elements of storytelling. And there is a renowned female griot, also from the Gambia, i think, by the name of Sona Jobarteh. Toumani Diabate from Mali is also a maestro not to be missed.
@@mothratemporalradio517 Very interesting
@@snowjix cheers! (:
I love how art and music make us understand each other.
Kora really blows my mind because of the way it has the bass, the accompaniment, and the solo all at the same time.
I love it, humanity at its best.
Embracing cultural music and instruments,
as we should be doing !!!
What I love about Rob is his desire to learn more and more about instruments that are considered unusual to many in our country. Some of them are old, and some of them are new. He always seeks to learn not only how to play the instrument or what it's used for, but also its story. Where it came from. What It means to many people in the originating country, and how it has an impact not only on their country and lives but the world itself.
Rob is so respectful and so friendly whenever he meets a musician. These videos are always so heartwarming and super interesting!
I played in a band playing West African drum music and rhythms for 10 years when I was a child. Our band leader, Gildas, was from Benin. We visited his home town for two weeks, and listening to this video really took me back to those sceneries. I'm sure the music from Gambia is very different, but to a relative outsider, especially the beautiful singing did remind me of the songs I heard in Benin. Lovely video!
The sound is like somewhere between a mandolin, guitar, and a harp! so pretty
It’s so amazing to see real musicians pick up an instrument and after a few minutes familiarizing themselves with it be able to improvise like that.
Yeah. Also it's nice because they play each other's instrument like playing their own. Rob plays the kora like a guitar (Kinda) and Salieu plays the guitar like a kora (also Kinda). It's a given, but still pretty cool.
I found out about the kora through the wonderful music of Ballake Sissoko through the *master* of desert blues Ali Farka Toure. Malian music has become one of my favourite things to listen to in the last year. So glad such a great instrument is getting some recognition,
If you like them, I also recommend the Malian band Songhoy Blues
I agree with you. It's an amazing instrument. I also love listening to Toumani Diabaté. He and Ali Farka Touré have an album called "Ali and Toumani", I bet you've already listened to it. All the best to you.
Yes! If you haven't heard him, his son Vieux Farka Toure is absolutely fantastic as well. I had the great fortune to meet him around 15 years ago or so. The kora is such a beautiful instrument, music from this region is some of the best on the planet!
@@127Kronos i adore Toumani Diabate and i love the interplay between him and Ali Farka Touré. By the way, have you seen Kronos bu Guillermo del Toro? (:
@@theflyingcrud i do like Vieux's stuff as well. Chip off the old block!
I worked in The Gambia back in 2016. This makes me so nostalgic!! The kora master here exemplifies the calm, welcoming, smiling nature of the Gambian people. I love to see this! collab with him in the future please!!
When they are jamming together, it becomes super apparent how music can be a great uniting force; even across massively different cultural backgrounds! Great video, Rob!
I love how these both gentlemen are bringing the exact positive vibes needed in a musical ambience... absolute calmness and frequent smiles... I don't know..maybe I am over wording it but that is exactly how I felt... loved it. And the hymn that Kora brings... eternal peace.
holy cow. this series is mind blowing. you can hear the spirit of the people and the culture in each instrument
This guy is pure peace. Soul healing boy, i enjoyed that a lot
I don't know why these videos binges me to another world,all relaxed,makes me cry,makes me feel loved.
Seeing new stuff and rediscovering the world makes us feel represented, even if we arent the people in the video nor from the same culture. I get the same feeling
Hey, you're loved. You may not think it sometime, but let te sweet music give you what some cannot . Greetings from Africa ♾️
I've loved kora music ever since I heard a great man named Malang Jorbateh playing in the subway one day when I was young. I saw him several times after that, always with a smile on his face, despite the subway stink and heat. It's a beautiful instrument and west African music should be appreciated by everyone!
one of his relatives, Sona Jobarteh, is the first woman to play the kora professionally and how I learned about this lovely instrument!
I can't describe how much I love the respect of the dialog that can always be spoken between music. It is the soul speaking, breaking barriers
I love that sound, it reminds me of a spanish guitar being played as a harp. It makes me nostalgic even tho it's the first time I hear it.
This is one of the most beautiful musical moments I have ever personally seen captured. When you were both singing and playing together in different languages, it furthermore shows music's incredible ability to bring us all together.
I have always believed that Kora produces music that speak directly to the soul.
Ok
It's definitely celestial. I know absolutely what you mean. Divinely moving, and a balm for everything that ails the heart.
I get what you are trying to suggest. Just a shame to use the word soul which describes something not real.
Maybe "speaks to the inner mind" or directly to the sub-conscious.
cuz its open d alwas hits different
@@VestigialHead Why do you feel like you must talk down to this person for using a word that you don't like? You may call it what you like, but please don't insult people for their interpretation or choice of words. We are peacefully describing our feelings of music, don't be a sour note.
What a beautiful video. Felt like i was in the room with you guys.
Yeah so immersive and calming like a good old TV show
The fact that there has been an unbroken chain of father-son tutelage of playing this instrument for millennia tells us this instrument instills a kind of mystical level of success in people throughout eons.
When he played the blessed Kora song.. the lights to my house started to flicker on.. beautiful song. Even the house liked it❤
Rob has reached a point in understanding stringed instruments in general that he can pick up any new instrument and figure it out pretty quickly.
A cross between a guitar and a standing harp. In both appearance and in sound. Fell in love with the sound when heard it on one track on an album of music from all over Africa in the Sixties.
I've fallen in love with every instrument you've had on your channel, with this being no exception. Seeing all the different instruments and the amazingly wide array of sounds thats all wholly unique to each of them is something I live for now lmao
U should study ethnomusicology
Not just the Gambia, but Mali, too! It’s great to see such an open-minded metal musician. Peace.
when he brought out the second Kora and started playing i legit got goosebumps. such a beautiful sounding instrument!
God its really cool seeing Rob applying his guitar techniques to other instruments
The pure joy in Rob’s face, just watching this absolute god play one of the most beautiful instruments ever created. I love it! Keep up the amazing work! I always love getting to see the musical side of other cultures around the world.
I'm from California and was introduced to kora music by listening to artists like Seckou Keita and Mamadou Diabaté. It may be one of my favorite instruments ever, so this video makes me happy. I like how Rob compared it to Open D tuning since I used that to write my first song.
Never heard of this instrument before. But man, I'm glad I know about it now. It's simply divine.
My favorite kora Album is called "New Ancient Strings" it's a gorgeous vibe
Some Mexican folk music includes the harp as an instrument and the compositions sound eeriely similar to what Salieu was playing. Crazy to think how much influence African music has all over the continent.
He really isn't called a master for no reason, he's amazingly fast and accurate in his playing. Like the masterful strike of a Kingfisher swooping at its prey from overhead.
Kingfisher 9000 🤞🤞
Uh, yeah, totally.
Another beautiful video of beautiful instruments and the beautiful people that play them. These always take me someplace else and it feels fantastic every time. Thank you Rob. Thank you Salieu.
Whatever language or form it is, music is always heavenly
I love the sound of the kora. It’s so soothing. I’ve heard it in some Senegalese and Malian music as well.
Thank you Salieu Suso for showing us these wonderful instruments.
I'd be interested to hear more of this legend of Kora.
😂
These videos about the non guitar instruments are some of the Robs' best videos and should get more views then they usually do :(
Exactly, he deserves more subscribers
The theremin and glass armonica ones are some of his most popular videos.
this instrument sounds absolutely BEAUTIFUL. i love it.
recieved MULTIPLE chills while watching and listening to him play the Kora
That Kora sounds amazing. It always trips me out with you that within minutes of picking up a completely foreign instrument you can produce beautiful music. That jam on the F Kora was really great. I know you’re playing in an untraditional manner, but it was working.
Bro, this instrument is going to be my life for the next few days! The Kora sounds so beautiful, somewhere between a harp and a kalimba in my mind
The kora is a sublime instrument. Thanks for introducing people to it! There is a female griot - Sona Jobarteh. Anyone who enjoys this instrument should ensure they don't miss Toumani Diabate, the renowned kora maestro from Mali. Peace! 🐢💜
The kora and the guitar together. Feels like Christmas tomorrow.
How can you not grin watching this? Thanks for tapping into the beautiful, uniquely human universality of music. The kora is so expressive and beautiful.
Hey Rob! I absolutely love these videos and I seriously can't get enough of seeing you try out completely new instruments like this!
As a Canadian with Inuit background, I'm curious if you'd ever try a tautirut (Inuit fiddle like instrument) or a qilaut (large animal skin and bone drum) Or both!
I'd love to see that!
@@devinward461 same. God bless you all.
if you want him to, you should probably find an artist who plays one online, and then ask him to play (the tautirut) with (that artist), not that I'd knkow.
The sound of a tautirut is so unique from the few recording i have heard it sounds like a violin and a jaw harp together
I'm from quebec city and i'm not in inuit regions, so do you know if the tautirut is common in those area cause i've seen not much information on the internet even with many hour of research just a couple of pictures and 2 recording
It's so cool how you can hear how African music had a big influence in south and central American music in the song he plays
I was just smiling throughout the video just listening to musicians just chilling together speaking the language of music is just awesome
I found myself doing the same. I felt so peaceful.
Please never stop making videos like these. It's is one of my absolute favorite series on here, and I can't get enough new knowledge on other instruments like this. I have binged all of them several times now lol. It's just awesome to learn about instruments I know nothing about. So much so that I'd say that you could make amazing videos exactly like this but with even more common instruments like a trumpet or sax. As a strings player, horns in general are totally alien to me in how they're really played, and I could imagine the other side of that is true with some horn players not knowing much about string instruments. Point is, this series could be the encyclopedia of tons of great instruments. Musicians like myself love every single second of these vids.
My favorite video so far, the love is amazing. If you can not see that we are all brothers and sisters after watching this I don't know what to say. This was simply so beautiful to watch and listen to. The Kora sounds amazing and you both have so much talent.
I love how these musicians have a look of appreciation for Rob’s unique techniques on their instruments.
Keep the odd instruments content coming. I love that you’re expanding this side of history to everyone
agreed, but odd?
I love this instrument, so pleasing. lovely gentle rippling sound.
I saw a man playing this instrument in the Animal Kingdom in Disney and I was amazed and enamored! I love the sound. The techniques he used to play that created so many different sounds and their functions was amazing to watch. Can’t believe I never had seen or heard of the Kora until now! Love the sound.
I saw the same around the end of may, right after this video came out. I had a new appreciation for it, I had to stop my group to listen to a few songs. Thankfully we were all band folks and we all enjoyed it
I love these instrument deep dives. This one in particular had me smiling so often throughout.
Agreed!!!✔✔
It's wonderful to hear this interview with the Kora master "living legend" Salieu Suso. Thank you!
Awwww...I loved it when the talking stopped and he sang that 'first song of the Cora'! Wonderful wonderful video. Thank you!! 💖
Absolutely LOVED when you two sang together. I also love the Kora!
I'm a 72 yr old red neck from the mid west who plays guitar and banjo .the sound from this instrument moves something inside of me the same way bagpipes do. Thanks to both of you for making my day
The Kora has such a calming sound, i really want to listen to this more
Rob really teaches all of us how to have a true love and understanding of music and cultures all over the world. It's amazing, and one of the reasons I love this channel
I love the look of this instrument. It looks so improvised. Body of wood and animal skin, strings of nylon, anchored with paracord which is tied to what appers to be a ring made from rebar. Shows that you don't need fancy materials to make something that sounds beautiful.
When are we getting some Kora metal?
I'd give it a week tops.
KORA METAL! Yes!
Always amazed whenever I see these traditional instruments. Just multiplies my love for music by at least 10 times!
Really appreciate Rob for making the series dedicated on these kind of instruments! Thanks for the Music!
You can really feel it when a musician instantly clicks with an instrument. A truly emotional moment!
I don't even play an instrument but I love seeing the cool things Rob shows us. All the interesting culture and sounds that come from these discoveries is fantastic.