As part of our Songs from Studio East series we're exploring music that combines both contemporary and traditional music from around the globe. Today we meet Temesgen Hussein of East Lansing. He was born and raised in Ethiopia. And he’s one of just a few outside that country who plays the begena . It’s used mainly in religious festivities almost exclusively, but Temesgen is breaking with tradition and introducing the begena to contemporary music. The buzzing sound is what makes this harp unique. Not only does the begena sound different, it looks really different. It’s made of dark solid wood and stands about 4 feet tall. At the top of the frame is a cross bar where the strings are tied to wooden tuning pegs. "It’s a 10 stringed harp. The strings are gut strings. And it has a square box at the bottom. And the strings are tied at the bottom of that box. That’s the sound box," said Temesgen, who in his day job is an architect. The box is covered with stretched hide. Like a guitar the
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