Gangaran, large bell. From Ireli group. Gangaran: largest of bells. Used principally for funerals. Banged with wood beater and made by the smith. Made from daba = iron. Bells made by Amadou Sagara (born 1956: smith resident at Ideli-Na). A. says that bells can only be made between sunrise and sunset. At the moment that the sun sets behind the cliff he will stop work. (In actuality he stops when the shadow hits the dune opposite the forge on the other side of the valley. A. says certain other objects can only be made at night (eg. little pincers used as charms by some people; Jeanne says the smith can often be heard working away at night, and no-one can approach). Traditionally gangaran bells can not be commissioned by everyone. But are commissioned by either elders or by the hogon ("le roi"). Formerly whilst they were being made it was customary for everyone to remain standing in the forge; on-one could sit down apart from the smith at work. Gangaran: playing. Amadou says it is forbidden to play the bells, particularly the gangaran with the village: elders will think someone has died. To make this recording we go to clearing in amongst boulders approx 1/2 kilometer outside of the village. The bell is held in the fingers of the left hand. The stick is amde from ebony (which is less dense and makes a better sound than other woods). The player moves the stick up and down the seam of the bell (at the side) as he plays to change the note. The higher the stick up the side of the bell the lower the tone: the lower down the stick: the higher the tone. [Caption to photo] The gangaran bell is made from a heavy piece of iron and requires two people to beat it at once in the early stages of making. The same making process is applied as for the si bell.
The gangaran is used principally for funerals, and is struck with a stick made from ebony (which is less dense and makes a better sound than other woods). The bell is held in the fingers of the left hand. The player moves the stick up and down the seam of the bell at the side as he plays to change the note. The higher up the side of the bell the stick is, the lower the tone. The bell was made by a smith born 1956, and resident resident at Ideli-Na. Bells can only be made between sunrise and sunset. Traditionally gangaran bells cannot be commissioned by everyone, but are commissioned either by elders or by the hogon ("le roi"). Formerly, whilst the bells were being made it was customary for everyone to remain standing in the forge; no-one could sit down apart from the smith at work.
