Xala

XALA

The Xala is a unique instrument which is played by dancing. It is a magical, resonant body with which, Ania Losinger, creates a fascinating synthesis of music and dance.
The artist brings this primarily acoustic instrument to life using flamenco shoes and two long poles.
New ideas and concepts have been developed during Ania’s long-term collaboration with musician and composer, Mats Eser, which began in 2005 and gave rise to a series of compositions, concerts and music-theater productions that are currently being performed internationally.
Today, three versions of the Xala exist which differ in size and timbre. Since its invention in 1998/99 they have been built by the inventor and instrument maker, Hamper von Niederhäusern.
More about the Instruments

The Name Xala

The name XALA is derived from the Basque percussion instrument Txalaparta. A Txalaparta consists of two or more wooden boards which are laid next to each other and played using thick poles held perpendicularly by two people who face each other. Except for its similar sounding name and the vertically held staves the Xala has nothing directly to do with the Basque instrument.
Xala generally stands for an instrument built of chiming bars and sounding plates made of wood, aluminum, stone, glass or concrete which can carry a person, resonate acoustically and which can be transported or installed permanently.

Hamper von Niederhäusern

Hamper von Niederhäusern, 1946 in Burgdorf (CH) geboren, macht in Pohlern (Stockental BE) in Grossvaters Werkstatt und in den Feldern erste Erfahrungen mit der Handwerkerei und träumt davon, irgendwann ein Instrument zu bauen. Er lernt in der Berufsschule der Stadt Bern LWB Kunstschmied. Seine eigene Werkstatt für Metallbearbeitung befindet sich – nach Bern, Freiburg und Zürich – in Kaiserstuhl. Hier gestaltet und produziert er Möbel und Metall am Bau. Nach autodidaktischer Weiterbildung baut er 1986 die ersten Grund- und Oberton gestimmten Klangstäbe für Xylofone und Marimbas. Er eröffnet ein eigenes Atelier für Instrumentebau: VONIE, das die Voraussetzungen schafft für die Entwicklung und den Bau des ersten XALAs.