This incredible instrument deserves to be better known

Can you write anything of any meaning in just 5 minutes? Particularly for an instrument you've never experienced before. That's what Zoë Marlew and myself tested in this episode when we met up with Mantawoman (aka Reylon Yount) who plays the Chinese Hammered Dulcimer called the Yangqin. And we had a lot of fun!
Mantawoman (aka Reylon Yount)
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Zoë Martlew
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#yangqin #chinesehammereddulcimer

[@mantawoman_]

Thank you for having me David and helping me share the beauty of the yangqin with your community :)

[@subjectline]

Thank you for bringing us such joy!

[@JusticeConstantine]

Great performance and interpretation.

[@Ravn000]

Very impressive performance! Such a pleasure to hear you play!

[@removemental2873]

❤❤❤😊

[@straussshi]

INSANE COLLAB!! 🔥🔥🔥

[@rishi_mahendran]

All Hammered Dulcimer players (of ALL its regional variations) of the world gather together to thank you for this video, David! An Indian Santoor player myself, I feel that all people drawn to this instrument consider its sound a hidden gem in the universe of music. And one of the things that is so special about it is that it is found across cultures. I have had so many people come up to me after a performance and recognize the Santoor as their own. Though they call it by different names, they refer to the same sound. We thank you for spreading the word! Hopefully we will come across more and more players of this international instrument in the future!

[@straussshi]

MANTAWOMAN (aka Reylon Yount) is one of the most extraordinary multi-disciplinary musicians/artists I've ever met. I've had the pleasure and honor playing alongside them since we were kids studying on Chinese instruments! Manta's mastery of the yangqin is absolutely unparalleled. So so happy to see this insane collab!! 🔥🔥🔥

[@mantawoman_]

😭😭😭❤❤❤miss you Strauss!

[@-jank-willson]

*He

[@SicklyWindows]

@@-jank-willson Why?

[@-jank-willson]

@@SicklyWindows because science

[@SicklyWindows]

@@-jank-willson science what ?

[@zoemartlew]

Thank you SOOO much, David, for having me on board this Manta Cray project! It's SUCH a fabulous idea! Writing a piece in 5 minutes is a BONKERS task for anyone, but being asked to write for this hitherto totally unknown instrument in that timeframe added a whole new dimension to the notion of creativity under pressure 🤪.Yet even in that limited time, I was entranced by the myriad sonic possibilities the magical yangqin offers, and how seamlessly it can move from traditional folk idioms - some perhaps thousands of years old - to something entirely new. Thank you Manta for your beautiful playing, effortless super glam, and crystalline explanations of how the Yangqin works (LOVE that your instrument is called "Dragon Boy"). I'm now totally in love with this instrument and want to write a proper piece. "Mantasia: The Return" 🤣

[@mantawoman_]

Here for all iterations of Mantasia! xx

[@emmaf5955]

I have never heard anything like Mantasia before but I very much enjoyed it and better than that, it surprised me.

[@NiddNetworks]

Hi Zoe. As someone who has permanent writers/musos block it was amazing to get a glimpse at your process! Can you instill any of it into words in the hope of passing some knowledge that I might be able to write or compose something some day? Best wishes!

[@The8BitPianist]

The idea of the chromatic scale being 2D was the coolest thing in the video. Very interesting instrument, and I always love seeing people demonstrating virtuosity like this!

[@sytsew]

what do yo make of the Harpejji?

[@S-s_s]

as a yanquin player, I never thought I can see a english video about chinese yanquin thank you!

[@Newfoundmike]

Being from America I can in CHINESE better than I can Understand that BLOKE TALKING at the BEGINNING Of this.

[@efmusic04]

​@@Newfoundmike what are you on about

[@txikitofandango]

Was sad to see the Greek santouri excluded from your map! It's similar to the Chinese version, not as metallic sounding as the Persian one and not as clunky and percussive as the Eastern European one. But it's cool how the Chinese one is laid out chromatically, I don't think most others are chromatic

[@JoelCarli]

It's always really interesting to watch "western" composers learning about folkoric/traditional instruments and applying them to their composition. We've seen it from modernist composers like Bartok, Debussy and Sibelius, but they tended to stick to their own traditions or to apply an orientalist approach to other cultures' music. This video actually looked at western composition using the instrument itself while also keeping in mind the traditional theory behind it, being performed by someone who has devoted her life to the instrument with all the expertise that comes along with it. Now I wanna hear a yangqin concerto!

[@benrex7775]

In Switzerland that instrument is also used in traditional music and has the lovely name "Hackbrett" or "chopping board" in English.

[@pillmuncher67]

Also in Austria and Bavaria. The rest of Germany - I'm not sure.

[@benrex7775]

@@pillmuncher67 Probably. But I don't actually know.

[@learnsantourwithmohammadre9986]

Thanks About that I'm also Santur player from Iran This instrument has incredible abilities

[@HelgeMoulding]

That 5 minutes sure concentrates your mind. I thought "Mantasia" was like a bit in a movie, like where a character is exploring a spooky place, and "Study #1" reminded me a lot of the Bach pieces I play on the fiddle - except it took advantage of the instrument's tuning which seemed amazing.

[@fingerhorn4]

What a brilliant Yangqin player. The finest I've heard anywhere.

[@CurtisThorpe]

This is great. I'm a hammer dulcimer player myself and have always wanted to try the yangqin

[@JP-bb9hu]

The three of you complemented each other really well. The outcome is almost magical. You should team up and score a whole film like this. And giving yourselves 5 minutes for it.

[@emmaf5955]

I am absolutely here for that.

[@3LLT33]

Yangqin, and the other qin & zheng style instruments, are magical sounding. Living in China and Taiwan there are people in the apartments practising and it’s just wonderful to hear.

[@jmwoods190]

There's also an Eastern European cousin to the Yangqin known as the Cimbalom, notably featured in Kodaly's Hary Janos Suite as well as Basil Poledouris's soundtrack for Conan the Barbarian!

[@kramalimedov]

He mentionned it in the video, associated it with Hungary. But it's also common in Romania, Moldova and neighboring countries

[@quatricise]

It's also the centerpiece of an entire genre of folk music in Czech Republic called commonly "cimbálovka" (cimbál = cimbalom).

[@brucealanwilson4121]

Related to both the harpsichord & piano. Also to the zither.

[@KanadMondal]

In India and Iran we have a Santoor, it is reminiscent of this instrument.

[@brucealanwilson4121]

@@KanadMondal Is the Sitar related?

[@hollyharps]

I love the psaltery family of instruments. You might be interested in what Michael Masley's done with the Cymbalom. He has a unique style of hammer, called a bowhammer, that allows violin-like notes as well as plucking and hammering.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Fascinating video 😮

[@DBruce]

Thanks David!

[@rubberducky5383]

OMG I'm obsessed with hammered dulcimer and have been following manta for awhile. What a treat to have her pop up on the best YT channel!!

[@alicec1533]

I love all of these composing challenge videos! Especially with Zoe Martlew.

[@kencory2476]

We enjoyed the hammer dulcimer in Budapest. One technique we heard often was a roll. The player could get nice lyrical sounds out of it.

[@davidpetersonharvey]

Sweet! Thanks for sharing the information on how this tuning works in addition to introducing the instrument itself. Beautiful instrument and beautiful playing by a talented musician.

[@acidicjello1962]

This video made me so happy. It introduced and satisfied curiosity in such a fun way. I think the 5 minute timeframe fit the vibe well but in general I don't think what particular restriction there is really matters as long as it fits and it's fun. The draw is already there.

[@Nooticus]

Agreed

[@Murrlin27]

That looked SO FUN!!

[@randobeantv7712]

It is so amazing to see the same interment create two so very different sounds. You both captured parts of the sound that speak to me in such a cool way.

[@SnowPrincessSally]

That is so cool! It has one of those traditional Chinese sounds to it that we think of (spiritual/Buddhist), it makes me think of meditation. The sound also reminds me a tiny bit of the Appalachian autoharp, but the tuning is in the traditional Chinese pentatonic style.

[@StupidMusicalExperiments]

It's so resonant, amazing tone.

[@erikroth9174]

In the handbell world, the composer's game is all about finding variation for an instrument that doesn't change - my first thoughts on this experiment would go to writing a melody that plays call-and-response between the two sides of the mallet and then ending with a slowly plucked re-statement of the melody.

[@LordMarlle]

I have little interest in the composing a piece in 5 minutes gimmick, but thank you so much for introducing me to the incredible talent of Mantawoman. The timbre of Yangqin is absolutely astonishing

[@quatricise]

True, I do suppose it has benefits, but ideally I think they should give themselves more time, 15 or 20 at least. Or perhaps split the time into two sessions - outline and polish. In the first writing session you're allowed anything, but in the second you cannot add new material, only edit what you have. Something like that.

[@JeanJacquesCoetzee]

Such a magical sound, at once both bright and capable of a darker string tone. Amazing to see it played, such varying playing techniques - the tuning is tricky but the puzzle looks to be where the scales are moving (diagonally as well as vertically?). Excellent performances and compositional sketches. I am excited to try write for this beautiful instrument, building on some past experiments with hammered dulcimer ❤

[@hrlarson]

Absolutely beautiful. I want a hammered dulcimer now.

[@rlgroshans]

I love the sounds from this instrument, so soothing. The 5 minute songs were both fantastic. With Zoe's, it sounded like the music from a suspenseful horror movie scene. I loved it.

[@brybry6669]

Thanks for keeping this family of instruments alive. Too few know of them and fewer still play them. Hammered dulcimer works well with drums and bass. Also works well with an instrument I've invented, the Psalterion Arcus. I've just released a video about it.

[@IranianSantur]

Thank you for covering this instrument. I have been playing the Iranian/Persian version of the dulcimer family in the US for years. It’s called Santur and is one of the oldest versions. People love the sound every time I present it. You can see me playing it in my channel. But thank YOU for bringing up this topic! 🙏🏼

[@HighKingTurgon]

I'm here for the five-minute compositions! It teaches us new instruments and provides constraints to compositional creativity that can be really productive!

[@VetsrisAuguste]

Brilliant!!! I loved every second of that video.

[@anthonyryan1342]

David, I have been following you for years and almost never comment. However 24 hours is best for no other reason as ‘sleeping on it’. Your dreams would be filled with inspiration and ideas for this wonderful instrument. Thank you for your content.

[@wilhelmseleorningcniht9410]

didn't know the hammered dulcimer was played in China, though in hindset it does make sense. I've normally associated it with Middle Eastern and European music so it's interesting to learn about another culture's

[@leonhardspies6876]

What a beautiful Instrument ♥️ So many cool effects! I’d love to see more challenges with traditional Instruments like the San Shin (Okinawa Banjo)

[@ZungZe]

Bravo!!! super nice music and video! I would love to see Zoë and David composing for Mutable instruments Rings.

[@slaskpojken396]

Mantasia was the best form of musical ASMR i have heard

[@organist1982]

And Mantawoman's voice--SOOO soothing!!

[@Hulloder]

Wow this is great, thank you David!!

[@FranzBiscuit]

Amazing instrument and TRULY impressive musical skills on display. Kudos!

[@fernandoroza6061]

Such a beautiful sound !!😊 And really powerfull !😊

[@Arden7one]

The loading signs on your foreheads was adorable 😂😍 I would have been like that through and through the entire presentation. 🙌Marvelous exposure for a beautiful instrument. Reminds me of the European Zither, yet far different than the YangQin which appears to be a lot more vast in its range & flexibility. Loved it, thank you for sharing and allowing us all to discover this wonderful instrument, presented with a jolly flare. 🤗🙏

[@readreadofficial]

Great video David! Would love to see 15 minutes with a Sitar :D

[@abydosianchulac2]

How is this my first time hearing chords plucked by fingers on one of these? That texture was incredible.

[@charliecarrot]

Love it!! Manta is amazing on this thing!

[@Piiiiiiiiit]

I gotta find some more music that utilizes this gorgeous sounding instrument, thank you for sharing!

[@annepoitrineau5650]

Thank you so much to you three. That was wonderful.

[@zebromusicofficial]

Beautiful sound

[@trumpet_gabo]

Amazing! Thank you Bruce! I would like to recommend two amazing cymbalom players from my area: Miklós Lukács (HUN) and Marius Preda (ROU) and my suggestion is for the new instrument is the seashell.

[@yperkin1016]

That was...interesting... Since you asked so desperately, After very careful consideration.... (No, I didn't consult Mr. Chimpi and his dartboard at the zoo this time!) I arrived at a careful conclusion ; that you should adjust you time limit to exactly Eight minutes and ten seconds. I do hope that will help you to properly apply your incredible inspiration and skill in completing your symphony on this illustrious instrument...., again. We really enjoyed your video about it ...and the efforts... of its gifted musician. Respectfully, I

[@owenmcgee8496]

The yangqin has a nice tone. I tend to like all such instruments, and things like the koto, wire strung harp, and anything that has that combination of bright notes and a bell like echo. The piece composed by Marlew sounds like the sort of percussion solo some composers have done. I heard something similar hearing a record called "percussion recital" by Stomu Yamash'ta on YT yesterday.

[@kittycatpilot]

I would love to see 15 or 30 minute compositions. Or alternatively an hour or two, but that timeframe includes the time you spend familiarizing yourself with the instrument. If you find yourself attached to these 5 minute compositions, I would love to see follow-up pieces with a day or a week more time. It would be interesting to see the improvement between your first impression piece and one where you get to spend a bit more time on it.

[@ace.of.space.]

it's so fun to watch Zoe's process - she's so creative and intense!

[@jonadabtheunsightly]

There's a sci-fi novel series (by Lois McMaster Bujold) in which a race of genetically-engineered people with four hands and no legs, live in zero gravity. The first character from this race introduced in the series (if you read in publication order), named Nicol, is a musician and plays a four-handed version of the hammer dulcimer. The five-minutes is probably just about the shortest timeframe that could work. And it did work; but a longer timeframe (perhaps 20 minutes) could also be interesting.

[@stuartsmith5146]

Hah! Zoë’s so fun. I know a couple doppelgängers of hers. Well done on your fun little journey, both of you.

[@richardlangellotti6208]

I have a hammered dulcimer. It was made by a, uh, luthier, i guess, in the Tennessee mountains. I bought it at a music store in West Jefferson, NC. It sounds almost the same as the yangqin. The cymbalom is the eastern European variant of this.

[@sleepydrJ]

Wonderful video!!

[@saulgoodman1390]

Next time you should definitely explore the Hurdy-gurdy!

[@davidasher22]

Lisa Gerrard played one of these in Dead Can Dance.

[@danielmaxwell6676]

Lovely music. thank you

[@youbyoub-ms2li]

The decision to change the title was great!

[@dentoncrimescene]

Great musician.

[@mantawoman_]

Thank u!

[@elizabethsternal2094]

I really enjoyed watching this episode. The tune study one was lovely

[@Ted655687653]

Fascinating

[@Marie-or7mf]

Wow! That is so cool. My ears thank you 😊

[@theNansasa]

The sound if this instrument automatically makes me smile

[@wiesorix]

Very interesting instrument, sounds amazing. Also really liked the little history lesson

[@JesseCohoon]

I love the hammer dulcimer!

[@ShaharHarshuv]

I told you in the previous survey you did about it. I think it's challenging enough without the time crunch. I would use at least an hour if not a full day.

[@Weeping-Angel]

This is so cool. And Mantawoman is amazing!

[@andorrasrevenge1683]

What an amazing video! Mantawoman is increadible. If you love this sound check out Cymbalom solos by Michael Masley. Mind blowing stuff as well.

[@Acoustic-Rabbit-Hole]

Mantawoman has great stage presence. // The layout of the keys as rows of staggered whole-tone scales is amazing. I play the harmonic keyboard (the Terpstra "honeycomb" keyboard (on my channel. here), and it is amazing how much it opens up the way i play, and how easy it is to think of chords and chord changes as compared to the piano. Wonderful instrument. Wonderful video!

[@erkansflojt]

Amazing video as a always! Would be fun if you used a Paetzold Contrabass recorder in the future. It is really a funhouse full of weird contemporary stuff!

[@dwukMUSIC]

Another great video. Thanks for making and sharing it.

[@jobramirez6319]

❤❤❤ Me encanto el video

[@TenorCantusFirmus]

Here in Europe we have a similar instrument, in the Carpatians: it's called cymbalon in Hungarian or tzambal in Romanian, and in its native countries it also is taught in Conservatories. They are fascinating instruments for sure, and actually might represent a sort of "living fossil", the last remnants of a transition between zithers and modern keyboard stringed instruments (harpsichords, clavichords and pianos), when the former were played with hammers or plucks while still not having the organ-inspired keyboard of the latter.

[@chiron14pl]

As a player of the western hammered dulcimer, this was a fascinating investigation of a similar instrument from China

[@stellarsoular]

zoe is a legend

[@jehovavilla]

😃 ¡Maravilloso!

[@AngelCatBaby]

Amazing instrument, I’ve heard it before at special ethnic occasions and I was impressed with the variation of tones which can come from it…I was mesmerized…this musician/artist is quite talented…..👍❤️🙏🏼🎵

[@AnimusInvidious]

Awesome.

[@schelsullivan]

I want one of every instrument to experiment with.

[@SigurdBraathen]

Very lovely presentation of a great instrument! There are many other interesting folk music instruments that we're oblivious about. Will you repeat this success for a few more, please?! =)

[@Ermude10]

Incredible instrument, and musician as well! Loved this!

[@dancoroian1]

The Romanian version is called the _țambal_ (tzam-BAHL) -- which weirdly enough sounds more like cymbal than anything else 🤔

[@gregor_man]

For the 1972 movie The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe the music was composed by the Romanian Vladimir Cosma, and it has absolutely stunning music, cymbal with pan flute.

[@connor.chan.jazzman]

The Yangqin is so gorgeous. You should definitely make some other videos about some of China's other incredible instruments. My favorite being the Chinese erhu

[@BomageMinimart]

This totally fucking rocks! Very cool instrument; it sounds awesome. It was great to have a really knowledgable person explain how it functions and demonstrate it. I really liked how it sounded when plucked with fingers. Thanks, y'all!

[@belverticale]

I was introduced to this amazing instrument by the amazing band Dead Can Dance. Laraaji's zither, particularly the album he did with Brian Eno, is another beautiful sound.

[@RockBoBsteRMusic]

Holy shit, you uploaded this the day i started to actually use it in one of my songs. I'm a drummer so i kind of understand how to play it, just don't know limitations really.

[@renatodalapa9620]

tão lindo quando um compositor tem a sua peça tocada pela primeira vz

[@loranelizabeth9148]

This is just a WOW!!

[@CameronBrooks]

This Must’ve been like having the most badass DJ table in old school taverns

[@DavidNayer]

I found this dynamic awsome. Just to watch each of your trio's curiosity at work. Your question about composing limits: (1) I was sad to not hear more, so I wanted you to have at least 10 or 15 minutes. (2) I also understand that limits and constraits can drive creation forward in useful ways. (3) consider that chess games have various standards like Blitz, Rapid, and Standard. Shorter can drive innovation because you do not have time to be conservative, and conversely more time leads to polishing or depth qualities for beauty. Might I suggest: 20 minutes, a forced 5 minute rest, and a final 20 minutes for polishing?

[@Rubrickety]

Zoe seems like one of those friends you love spending time with but take a week to recover. 😂

[@zoemartlew]

🤣

[@JoelCarli]

I've never heard of this instrument, reminds me of the dulcimer EDIT: should've watched all the way through before commenting, it's literally a dulcimer lmao

[@clementinelives]

🤣🤣

[@lt_johnmcclane]

Ironic on a video about composing in five minutes you spent less time watching the video before commenting lol I’m just poking fun. We’ve all made that mistake before

[@neileyre6019]

What a beautiful sound ! I would love to see how a harpist would interact with it. Great video ❤

[@Polished_Perspective]

I feel like the 5 minute time frame is a good idea precisely because it seems to be not enough time to get comfortable.