Black Magic C# Amara (Celtic Minor)

Special features of the Black Magic Handpan are a balanced tone, also known as timbre, as well as very high tuning stability and rust resistance. It has a powerful sound and is therefore ideal for both beginners and advanced users.

Height: 25cm
Weight: 3.5kg
Material: coated DC04 steel / nitrided steel

Tuning Label : Celtic Minor
Synonym : Amara
Basic tone sequence 8+1: C#/ G# ABC# D# EF# G#
Atmosphere : melancholic-archaic-medieval
Mode : Minor - Aeolian
Pitch : hexatonic

Semitones: 7-3-2-2-1-2-2-3

Tonal center: DING



mood description:

With this immortal selection of notes (Amara) you can easily conjure up sounds that are reminiscent of times gone by with perfect fifths and fourths. This instrument might have found its place in spiritual ceremonies in Celtic times. Compared to the full Aeolian mode, the sixth degree is absent here, making this tuning a bit more open. Especially in the upper range you can play very nice harmonies. This is one of the most popular tunings in the handpan world.

Characteristic of Amara/Celtic Minor is the jump from the DING to the first note in the interval of a perfect fifth (example DA). This jump in a fifth immediately opens up the tonal space and gives the tones above it a context. The next tone is a minor third above the fifth, which in turn is reminiscent of the natural tone series. From here there are two whole steps, one semitone, two whole steps and the jump of the minor third to the highest note of the temperament, which results from the absence of the sixth degree (Example D Celtic Minor: note Bb).

This tuning sounds particularly archaic, since many pure intervals (fifth, fourth, octave) that were already used in the Middle Ages can be played.

Another special feature results from the arrangement of the tones: In the example D Celtic Minor, the tones on the right side result in the triad of the root, in this case D minor (ADFA). On the left side, on the other hand, all tones of the major triad are one tone below the root, i.e. C major (CEGC). When playing harmoniously, the major sound impression can also be represented very easily. Not for nothing the probably most common handpan tuning.

Suitable handpan tunings:

Very well suited for playing together, improvisatively:

• E major (parallel tuning)
• E Sabye (parallel tuning)
• Eb Aeolian
• From Celtic Minor / Amara
• C# Kurd
• F# Ragadesh

Also good for composing together:

• Bb Celtic Minor / Amara
• B Aegean
• Eb Celtic Minor
• Eb Kurd
• B Celtic Minor / Amara
• B Kurd
• F# Sabye