Preliminary measurements of vibrations and resonances of a Kundum xylophone

Abstract

The kundum xylophone is unique among bar instruments because it has bull horn resonators. The kundum is made and played primarily by the Birom ethnic group found in Vom in the Plateau state of Nigeria, which is in the central and northern part of the Nigeria. It complements both the Western and African musical genres but is played mostly in traditional folk music. The unique tone quality of the kundum is far more superior and richer than other xylophone types found in traditional Nigerian societies. The handmade kundum consists of a row of wooden slabs that are struck with a hammer. The vibrations of the wooden slabs are amplified by closed-tip bull horns placed beneath the slabs. The bull horns are sized to produce a high-pitched note; the kundum uses overtones of the open-closed bull horns. This paper examines preliminary measurements of the vibrations of the wooden slabs, as well as natural resonances of closed-pipe bull horns. Comparisons are made with the resonances of ideal cylindrical and conical open-closed tubes to see if the effect of the curved tip of the bull horns warrants further study.