Atenteben: Ghana musical instrument

The atenteben is a bamboo flute from Ghana. The musical instrument is performed vertically, like the European recorder, and also like the recorder, the instrument can be played diatonically and chromatically. Although the atenteben was originally used as a traditional musical instrument, starting in the 20^th century it has been used also in the modern day and classical music. 

source of picture: instrumundo.blogspot.com

Many players of the musical instrument have attained great levels of virtuosity and are able to perform African and western music on the musical instrument.

The atenteben originated with the Akan ethnic group of the south-central region of the country, especially in the region of the Kwahu Plateau. The musical instrument was popularized first throughout the nation by the Ghanaian musicologist known as Dr. Ephraim Amu. Also the musical instrument was featured in the Pan African orchestra that was led by Nana Danso Abiam and Dela Botri who was a former member of the orchestra.

The musical instrument is used as a solo instrument and an ensemble musical instrument in many schools and universities across the country. A instruction manual for the musical instrument has been written by a Ghanaian educator, scholar and composer from the Kwahu Plateau region, Dr. Kwasi Aduonum.

The atenteben instrument is one of the most versatile instruments that can be found in the country. The modern version of the musical instrument that is built in B flat and C was developed by Dr. Ephraim Amu, whose pioneering work set a notated musical tradition for the musical instrument and added the instrument into the curriculum of major educational institutions in the country. The B flat version of the flute is a transposing musical instrument. It is an end-blown musical instrument that has 6 top holes and 1 bottom hole. The embouchure at the mouth of the pipe is made up of piece of wood that is there to fit tightly into the pipe with a narrow slit through which the sound is manufactured by blowing it.

The atenteben originates from the Tweneduruase in the Kwanu Plateau of south-central region Ghana. The early 20^th century version of the instrument is a five-holed and horizontally-played with four top holes and one bottom hole. Traditionally, the music of the instrument was pentatonic or hexatonic and linked with funerals more than festive activities. The atente drums were the main musical instrument that accompanied the instrument. The musical instrument was popular through the first half of the century but was discarded in the 1950s in favor of the modern version of the flute.

Repertoire for the modern version of the musical was often written in C diatonic or C Mixolydian. This limitation was because of the absence of the playing pattern that could manufacture the accidental sounds of the musical instrument.

Today, the atenteben music attracts a great following. Composers of diverse background have come to accept the ease with which the musical instrument can be adapted to various music genres.

In tuning the flute, though, is yet to be perfect. Because various sizes of the bamboo offshoot are used in the carving, microtonal disparities sometimes do take place in the major octaves making ensemble performance very difficult. It also needs a fine tuning device to allow it to accommodate other musical instruments whose overall tuning may be a little bit flat or sharp.