Classification aerophone | ||
Hornbostel–Sachs classification 421.111.12(end blown flute) | ||
The washint is an end-blown wooden flute originally used by the Amhara and Tigray people in Ethiopia and Eritrea. Traditionally, Amharic musicians would pass on their oral history through song accompanied by the washint as well as the krar, a six stringed lyre, and the masenqo, a one string fiddle.
Construction and design
The washint can be constructed using wood, bamboo, or other cane. Varieties exists in different lengths and relative fingerhole placement, and a performer might use several different flutes over the course of a performance to accommodate different song types. It generally has four finger-holes, which allows the player to create a pentatonic scale.
References
Washint Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA