Rajery
World · MG · Active since 1964

Rajery

Crystalline bamboo zither melodies that ripple like water. Malagasy folk played with a delicate, harp-like precision that brings a deep, quiet joy to any room.

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Rajery's music is a masterclass in organic shimmer. At the heart of every track is the valiha, a Malagasy bamboo zither that produces a sound somewhere between a kora, a harp, and a classical guitar. The notes don't just play; they cascade in liquid, polyrhythmic cycles that feel both ancient and startlingly fresh. It is music that breathes with the natural world, evoking the high plateaus of Madagascar through warm acoustic arrangements and gentle, unhurried percussion.

What makes Rajery truly distinctive is the incredible technical precision he achieves despite having lost the fingers on one hand as an infant. This physical reality has shaped a unique, self-taught style that emphasizes the instrument's percussive and melodic resonance simultaneously. His compositions often feature interlocking patterns that create a sense of perpetual motion, yet the overall effect is one of profound stillness and peace. It is sophisticated, virtuosic music that never feels the need to show off.

Start with the album Fanamby to hear his sound at its most refined and evocative. It serves as a perfect gateway into the Malagasy musical tradition while standing on its own as a beautiful, meditative work of contemporary acoustic art. It is the ideal companion for moments that require focus, clarity, or a gentle emotional lift.

Rajery, born Germain Randrianrisoa, is a player of the valiha from Madagascar who founded the modern valiha orchestra. As an infant, he lost all the fingers on one of his hands; subsequently, he became a self-taught valiha player.
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Our Catalog6 Albums · 1999 · 2012
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