 | mbira sandza, sansa, bant'you, mbira, kisaanj, sanza Stearns #2631 | Africa Congo or Angola | This Mbira was given to Leo Sarkisian in Kinshasa, Congo, however, he believes that it could have been made in Angola. It has twenty metal tongues and three bottlecap ("Cherry Plum") buzzing resonators. There are two somewhat tight finger holes drilled on the right side with a carved area to permit to the right thumb access to the seven higher pitched tongues. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
Also see: Stearns #0218, #0220, #0221, #0222, #0223, #0224, #0227, #0228, #0229, & #2631.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | hausa horn Stearns #2604 | Africa | In 1958, these collapsable, two-piece brass Hausa Horns were given to Leo Sarkisian by Hausa musicians in Kaduna (Northern Nigeria). Horns are like these are commonly found in Nigeria. See Stearns #2605.
Leo Sarkisian is an American, born in Massachusetts to Armenian immigrants who fled Turkish Armenia to escape genocide. After World War II, Leo joined Tempo International in Hollywood, CA, as the Director for Ethnic Recordings in 1950. Tempo sent Leo to Pakistan for one year, on to Afghanistan for three-and-a-half years, and then to Africa in 1958. After one year in Ghana, Leo went to Conakry, Guinea and remained there for three years. In 1961 Edward R. Murrow, Director of the U.S. Information Agency (parent of the Voice of America [VOA]), came to Guinea and recruited Leo to be Music Director for Africa at the VOA starting in 1963. It was there that Leo become broadcaster and writer of the the VOA's longest running music show which is still on the air. Leo continues to work on maintaining the VOA's Leo Sarkisian Library of African Music. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's "Music Man".
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | hausa horn Stearns #2605 | Africa | In 1958, these collapsable, two-piece brass Hausa Horns were given to Leo Sarkisian by Hausa musicians in Kaduna (Northern Nigeria). Horns are like these are commonly found in Nigeria. See Stearns #2604. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | mouth organ Stearns #2606 | Thailand | This Mouth Organ was a gift to Leo Sarkisian from Howard Hertzog, a USAID officer stationed in Bangkok. See Stearns #2607. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | mouth organ Stearns #2607 | Thailand | This Mouth Organ was a gift to Leo Sarkisian from Howard Hertzog, a USAID officer stationed in Bangkok. See Stearns #2606. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | panpipes Stearns #2608 | Romania | These Panpipes were given to Leo Sarkisian by and American-Romanian employed by the US Government who was stationed in Africa. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | vina Stearns #2609 | Middle East Pakistan | Leo Sarkisian first went to Pakistan in the 1950s as part of his job with Tempo International where traveled with the Radio Pakistan Director, Mr. Salim Gilani. Mr. Gilani gave this Vina to Leo during his first visit in 1953. It used to have a baseball-sized oval glass to slide over the strings. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | sitar Stearns #2610 | Middle East Pakistan | Leo Sarkisian first went to Pakistan in the 1950s as part of his job with Tempo International where traveled with the Radio Pakistan Director, Mr. Salim Gilani. Mr. Gilani gave this Sitar to Leo during his first visit in 1953. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | rebab Stearns #2611 | | This Rebab is played with a plectrum. This is a gift of Leo Sarkisian. Leo recorded Tawakal(?) Khan playing this very rebab in 1953; Leo considers Kahn to have been the best rebab player of all time. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | kora Stearns #2612
| Africa Conakry, Guinea | This Kora comes from Conakry, Guinea and is played by the Malinke people (an ethnic group that extends south to Mali, Senegal, and Sierra Leone). Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | harp Stearns #2613 | Morocco | This instrument comes from Morocco, and however, the donor, Leo Sarkisian, has seen identical instruments in the Nuristan Province of Afghanistan. It is also similar to string instruments found in Sub-Saharan Africa. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | gusle fiddle Stearns #2614 | Europe Serbia? | This is a one-string Fiddle with chiwara neck and bow. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | gunbri turtle shell folk lute Stearns #2615 | Africa Morocco | This Gunibri with a tortoise shell body was given to the Stearns Collection by Leo Sarkisian. He collected it in a small shop in Casablanca during one of his visits during the 1970s. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | konni halam, xalam, ngoni, khalam Stearns #2616 | Africa Guinea | This Konni was given to Leo Sarkisian by Mama Niang, Guinea's best konni player during the late 1950s to early 1960s. This instrument has numerous names throughout Africa: Ngoni in West Africa and Mali, Konni in Guinea, Halam or Khalam in Senegal, and Xalam in the Gambia. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | huqin Stearns #2618 | Asia Hong Kong | This bowed instrument of the Chinese Huqin family of stringed instruments was given to Leo Sarkisian by Pete Fisher (a USAID employee) who visited Hong Kong during the late 1950s. It has a carving on the back of its gourd that depicts plowing (man and ox) and large-scale flowers. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | slit drum Stearns #2619 | Africa Liberia | This is a hand-held version from Liberia of the larger wooden Slit Drum that is played on the ground; it can sound two notes. It was collected by Leo Sarkisian in Liberia where he worked and recorded for the Voice of America (1964 to 1969). Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | k-bang k-bang drum Stearns #2620 | Africa Liberia | This Drum was collected by Leo Sarkisian in Liberia. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | rattle sistra Stearns #2621 | Africa Guinea | This Fulani rattle was collected by Leo Sarkisian in the village of Labe Fouta Djallon region in Guinea during his recording work there from 1959 to 1963. The makers are known as Fulani, they are travelers and traders. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | ankle bells Stearns #2622 | Africa West Africa | These Ankle Bells come from West Africa, and can also be found in other southern African countries. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | ankle bells Stearns #2623 | Africa West Africa | These Ankle Bells come from West Africa, and can also be found in other southern African countries. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | sasa shekere Stearns #2624 | Africa Liberia | This Sasa is a gourd with an exterior shell-beaded net to actuate sound production. The net is tied at the base of the gourd. It is played by tugging the string downward. See Stearns #2625. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | sasa shekere Stearns #2625 | Africa Liberia | This Sasa is a gourd with an exterior shell-beaded net to actuate sound production. The net is tied at the base of the gourd. It is played by tugging the string downward. See Stearns #2624. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | ankle rattles Stearns #2627 | Africa | This pair of Ankle Rattles is made of seeds. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | kola nut rattles Stearns #2628 | Africa | This pair of Ankle Rattles are made of kola nuts. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | kola nut rattle Stearns #2629 | Africa | This is a large kola nut Rattle. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | balafon xylophone Stearns #2630 | Africa Guinea | This 19-note Balafon (xylophone) was presented to Leo in 1960 by Guinea’s finest Xylophonist in the National Ensemble, a descendant of the musically renowned Diabate Griot tribe. Diabate can be heard playing this instrument on a U of M digitized recording available as part of the Voice of America radio archives. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | goblet drum Stearns #2638 | Africa Liberia | This Goblet Drum was given to the Stearns Collection by Leo Sarkisian. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | goblet drum Stearns #2633 | | This Goblet Drum was given to the Stearns Collection by Leo Sarkisian. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | goblet drum and beaters Stearns #2634 | | This Goblet Drum with five metal beaters and one wooden beater was given to the Stearns Collection by Leo Sarkisian. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | kalungu talking drum Stearns #2635 | Africa Liberia | This Kalungu (Talking Drum) comes from Liberia, this type of instrument is not used much anymore except in Nigeria. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | dundun kalungu, talking drum Stearns #2636 | Africa Nigeria | This Dundun (Talking Drum) with bells and an angled wooden beater comes from Nigeria. A strap used to tighten the drum heads is missing. This type of instrument is not used much anymore except in Nigeria. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | footed drum Stearns #2637 | Africa Liberia | This Footed Drum from Liberia was given to the Stearns Collection by Leo Sarkisian. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | footed drum Stearns #2632 | Africa | This large Footed Drum was given to the Stearns Collection by Leo Sarkisian. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | horn Stearns #2640 | Africa Cameroon | This metal horn is from the Bamoun tribe in Cameroon; it was given to the Stearns Collection by Leo Sarkisian. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | dilruba Stearns #2641 | Middle East Pakistan | This bowed Dilruba was a gift to Leo Sarkisian from Salim Gailani, Director of Radio Pakistan in Karachi, 1953. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | santur Stearns #2642 | Middle East Persia (Iran) | This Persian Santur was given to Leo Sarkisan by Mohamed Qureshi, an Iranian musician and student in Washington, D.C. in 1949. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | kanun kanoon Stearns #2643 | Middle East Egypt | This Egyptian Kanoon was presented to Leo Sarkisian in Cairo in 1966. He was told by the musicians who gave it to him that it was made by a famous, well-known instrument maker. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | tambura tambur Stearns #2645 | Middle East Afghanistan | Leo Sarkisian collected this Tambura in the northern town of Mazari Sharif in 1954. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |
 | san hsien Stearns #2647 | Asia China | This San Hsien was a gift to Leo from a former USAID director stationed in Asia during the 1950s. Leo Sarkisian is Voice of America (VOA) Broadcaster and Writer in Washington, D.C. and former Director for Ethnic Recordings, Tempo International, Hollywood, CA. In Africa, Leo is known as VOA's Music Man.
The Leo Sarkisian Collection |