Copyright ©
2005-2012
Mark Holdaway
2005-2012
Mark Holdaway
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If you have a testimonial about the kalimba or kalimba music and what it has done for your life, please share it with me! I got the book today and it looks great! I definitely will be ordering one for the kids and am waiting for my husband to check out your siteand choose one for his birthday in May! Thanks again for your special attention! I'll let you know how the playing goes . . . they're such enchanting little things! I'll be in touch. Margot, 2006 It has arrived. What a beautiful little instrument, thank you. I look forward to getting to know it. I also got the e-alto and your new CD. WOW. Mark, the CD is fantastic. I just got through listening to it and it totally blew me away. Beautiful! Talk about getting schooled. What a wonderful collection of songs. I am so impressed and inspired. Congratulations - what a fine achievement. I'm thinking I may need to do a pilgrimage to visit you and to see you play. Maybe one of the festivals you do or one of your shows. I have been operating in a vacuum too long. I'd love to meet you sometime; maybe even jam a bit. Well, here's wishing you and yours a very wonder-filled holiday season. It certainly has been a pleasure getting to know you and doing business with you. I look forward to a bright future filled with hope, light and enchanting music. Warmest wishes, In Tucson, Arizona sitzt Mark Holdaway vor seinem Computer und tippt seine "Tips of the day" hinein: für seine Kalimba-Fangemeinde, Daumenklavier-Enthusiasten oder Zanza-Liebhaber (je nachdem, wie wer dieses Instrument als was bezeichnet...) Mark schreibt seine Tips of the day nach einem gestrengen Plan: montags schreibt er über "spirit/mind/body", dienstags gibt er "elementary tips", mittwochs wendet er sich an die Fortgeschrittenen mit "advanced tips", donnerstags heisst es "Featured Kalimba" und der Freitag gehört der physikalischen Seite der Kalimba. Das ganze ist ein Blog und man kann mit Mark durchaus auch über Kalimba-Fragen diskutieren. Die physikalischen Tips sind ausgesprochen detailiert und haben ein wissenschaftlich hohes Niveau: z.B. untersucht er Frequenzen einzelner Töne seines Instruments (etwa ihre Envelope-Form ), Resonanzfrequenzen, Obertonfrequenzen, den wah-wah-Effekt oder den Einfluss von an den Stimmzungen befestigtem Konservendosenblech. Er schreibt sehr humorvoll und formuliert äusserst witzig. Es macht Spass, seine vielen vielen kleinen Aufsätze zu diesem Thema zu lesen...auch wenn man nicht Kalimba spielt. Wer die Texte durch hat...wird sich aber garantiert eine kaufen oder basteln. Ein Link führt sinnigerweise zu einem Kalimbashop. seine Kalimbas, die er dort verkauft, stammen aus Afrika und es werden die besten Kalimbas sein, die es überhaupt in der ganzen Welt zu kaufen gibt, ich bin sicher. Folgenden netten Artikel fand ich dort: November 3, 2006 Playing Kalimba in the Santiago Airport Neugierig auf die ganze Seite? Neugierig darauf, zu erfahren, was denn nun eine Kalimba eigentlich ist? Neugierig auf Kalimba-Musik? Es gibt ein sehr schönes Soundbeispiel, auf dem Mark spielt und gleichzeitig seine Geschichte von ENERGY erzählt (man muss auf seinen Namen klicken und kommt dann zu seiner persönlichen Seite). Martin, 2006 My sisters are using your CD - Silent Night - as the sound track for Christmas because our music box that played that tune broke. Our parents always used it to wake us up Christmas morning. Your CD covers it perfectly! Thanks Mark! Thank you again! Practice with more structured tablature is good. I have a lot of fun and serenity with my kalimba. Jay, 2006 Hi! Your Kalimba Christmas CD is a pure delight! I love the sounds you get out of kalimbas and your innovative arrangements! Mary, 2006 My webmaster Susan posted my Middle Eastern sounding kalimba piece Morocco on the front page of the Kalimba Magic website because she liked it. In preparation for my new CD Between the Dark and the Light, I added a guitar track to the solo kalimba, and uploaded the new Morocco and asked Susan to check it out... —Mark Hey! This is even more gorgeous than before!! I love this tuning. This music is so... haunting and beautiful at the same time--sends chills up my spine. I'm also really glad you let it go for the full length of the piece instead of fading out, and the guitar superbly enhances without overwhelming the delicate kalimba in the foreground. Truly lovely--BRAVO!!! Susan, 2006 Hi Mark, Thank you! My friend Martha really loves her kalimba! She plays it every couple of days because the vibrations it makes in her hands makes her "feel good" (besides liking the sound). I know she will love the book! Alix, 2006 The concert on Sunday evening was fantastic. You are unquestionably a world class performer on the Kalimba and both Fran and I were amazed at your ability to produce such remarkable music from that instrument. I agree, more individuals should have attended. Those that did not missed a very special performance. Thanks for a wonderful evening. Ed, 2006 I did receive my Alto and I love it! My friend Lori tried it out and wanted one too! (That's this order) Thank you so much for being so prompt! Jodie, 2006 Thanks Mark, I enjoyed your music on your site tremendously. Eshu, 2006 Hi Mark, Thanks, I really love this instrument. I think it will be a good companion to me for years to come. Thanks again, Neil, 2006 Blessings are all around us, it is our job to awaken to them Mark, 2006 Hi Mark, Thank you for the update of what you're doing with the Kalimba out and about. Sounds exciting and fun. I've copied your last statement and am sending it back to you because it is beautifully stated! I am going to put this as a quote in my journal. Thank you for who you are and what you do to make this community and the greater community a kinder, gentler place. [In a hectic day, peace is only a moment away at any point, it just needs to be chosen. But when I pick up my kalimba, peace chooses me. Blessings, -Mark] Fran, 2006 Thank you so much, the light went on.... Be well, Mark. Greg, 2006 Oh my gosh mark, I am so excited, and you are such a nice a wonderful person, I can't wait to make music with this, completely awesome, I'm so EXCITED. Yeah I don't have huge thumb nails, I guess I better grow them out. I'm a cronic nail bitter @_@ hehehe. Anyways thank you so much for this product, I have plugged it in yet, so I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again. Always. Danielle, 2006 Thanks Mark!! It was on the door step when I got home from work on Friday. My 2 1/2 yr old son and I had fun running it through a Line 6 Pod XT Live and a fender amp for a few minutes before I played with it in its un-amped form later that night. The Tab is really easy to read. Actually, I was able to read that tab better than guitar tab. Thanks again. It sounds really good and I look forward to mangling up it's sound through all sorts or filters etc. Don, 2006 Hey Mark, Thanks again for the kalimba, I have especially fallen in love with the Alto Kalimba. As I told you I first heard the kalimba when I attended an ayahuasca ceremony in Ecuador, and my primary interest in the kalimba was to use as a 'shamanic' instrument. I found in my work I was really looking for a way to express myself whilst under the influence, as a sort of guide to my feelings and way to release pent up energy. Well the last two Saturdays I used the kalimba in my personal ayahuasca ceremonies and I have to say I am astonished at the kalimba's spiritual resonance, both with myself and the external world. I have never found an instrument that is able to speak the world so truly and so beautifully, it has really helped me along my path. I must say you are doing something great spreading the word. Not only the instrument, but the way in which you are sending your energy along with it is most wonderful. You're giving a gift to the world, so thank you. And the spirits thank you too, because they love the music these magical instruments can make. So simple, so expressive, so true. Thanks again and keep up the good work, Neil, 2006 Mark, The rhythm guitarist with the first group I was with recorded him and I (him on guitar/synthesizer, and myself on kalimba and flute) doing some things together back in the mid-to-late 1990's, while I was living in New Orleans; but unfortunately the recordings were destroyed during hurricane Katrina. His home was completely under water, and him and his wife had to be rescued via helicopter from the roof of their home. However, I am always coming up with original tunes/patterns out of my head, and I've never really thought about actually recording them. But if I get the opportunity to get them copyrighted/recorded, I'll surely contact you and send you a demo! One of the statements you made on your website that I truly can relate to...."walking around while playing the kalimba" surely describes me, as I am usually walking around, dancing/singing while playing my kalimba (smile)! Everyone seems to be extremely busy these days, but let's keep in touch! Miguel, 2006 Hi Mark, just letting you know the kalimbas arrived safe and sound two days ago. Perhaps the first of their kind in Korea, and what magical instruments! They sound so much better in person. I've been a little busy to get really stuck into the books of yet, but I've already caused my thumbs some considerable trauma mucking around. I am looking forward to getting to know them better, it's quite an addictive sound, tinkles around your brain for a while after you put them down... I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again for spreading the music. Best wishes, My Kalimba arrived today and it's wonderful. Thanks for the speedy delivery and the interesting notes. This is my second Kalimba and my first from you. I use the kalimba as my main instrument when playing music live and having this added pickup will make it all the more easier. Best Regards, I got the new Kalimba with the pickup....I love it... Linda, 2006 Your website is terrific. Thanks for mailing the kalimba out right away though it's a holiday (Chanukah/Christmas) for my seven year old daughter, who asked for a kalimba this a.m. (Her wish is my command!) Best wishes, The earth and sea are at peace with each other and your music flows in the trades. Mahalo. Love, peace and energy. Carolyn, 2006 Thank you so much for allowing me to have this beautiful kalimba, and for your patience in awaiting payment... Blessings, my friend. I cannot thank you enough for bringing those beautiful raindrops into my life... that is what I think they sound like. I am going to write a song about rain... maybe rain faeries. And the book with CD... This made all the difference. The book bridged the gap and got me connected with this magical instrument. It gave me all the ideas to branch out and discover many musical channels to swim down. I love it. When I hold it in my hands I get entranced by something about it. It makes me feel connected and grounded. Time can just pass by and I am in the "zone" of Kalimba Magic. When I get a little more cash I would love to purchase the smaller model and the one with African tuning. But for now I am more than happy enough. Thank you. I wish I could give you a hug. Love and light and the gift of faerie sight. Rachael, 2006 Wow, thanks for this wonderful site. I messed with a Kalimba many years ago, then it fell by the wayside. Just recently while at a friend's aunt's house I noticed a Kalimba made from a gourd on her mantle. When I asked her about it she didn't even know what it was or where she got it. She was very surprised when I told her it was an instrument. She just smiled really big and said I could have it. I politely declined her offer and said she may want to pass it along to the family. NO, I want you to have it, she replied. Right then and there I felt the peace, love and joy that this special instrument had to offer. I told her thank you and promised to make a song for her and put it on a CD. Well the Spirit came through my thumbs and I had it to her the next day... I let another friend of mine borrow it and he wrote and recorded a beautiful piece with it. What a special instrument. He's growing gourds so we can experiment. I'm inspired by R.P.Collier. Now that I've found this site my inspiration has become even more elevated. Thank you and may Peace and Joy continue to flourish forever. Bill, 2006 For a little over 18 months now I have been studying shamanism, in particular the use of plant medicine in indigenous Amazonian societies. In December of last year I traveled to Ecuador to drink Ayahuasca with a Quechwa shaman. Ayahuasca is a potent hallucinogen (I prefer to call it a medicine) that facilitates an incrdibly rich, multitextured, and healing journey into the natural and spiritual world. Usually a shaman will learn special songs (called icaros) directly from the plant, but in Ecuador the shamans do not sing these songs... Instead, in Ecuador, I met a Hawaiian man who played the thumb-piano, and he masterfully used this instrument to guide us through the world of nature and the spirits. Never in my life had I heard such a profound distillation of music through nature - so precise was the perception of this instrument, so delicate, so visceral, that is took me on an incredible and healing journey of expanded consciousness. It was as if raindrops of sound were falling from heaven itself, magical music interwoven with the very fabric of reality. It was one of the most - if not the most - amazing musical experience I had had... so I told myself if ever I had the chance I would learn to play... and kept it in the back of my mind until now, even as I was listening to a Peruviann shaman singing his magical healing ayahuasca-songs, which had a far different texture of sound. I can well understand why the African tribes would use this instrument to contact their ancestors, and why you have developed a great love for it - it truly is a heart and mind-opening instrument, imbued with deeply resonant and delicate power.. Neil, 2006 The kalimba arrived yesterday and I played it for about an hour. What a beauty! The straight grain is great and color is awesome, but the sound is the thing, so chiming and rich. I plugged it into my amp and wow. I look forward to doing some amazing things with this instrument. I have a rumba box arriving soon and with my Mac will put together some sort of something. Thanks and I am looking forward to some great fun with this beauty,
This will be music I will listen to many times over the years. I'm so glad Charles Head put me on to your music. Mae Dean Smith, Jackson, MS, 2006 Thanks so much for the karimba book. You've done it again--a very well laid out book, easy to use, creative use of karimba and some African tunes! Best to you, I just found your website and I am thrilled to find such a following for the karimbas. I've recently returned from a year long internship in Botswana, where I first heard this instrument. I've been longing to hear it again from the time I returned. I can't wait to pick one up and listen to this music again. I'm living in Phoenix, is the website the best way to purchase an instrument or are they available in a store (with instruction book)? Congrats on your wonderful work and thanks for sharing it. Molly, 2006 Was smitten by the kalimba bug back in the early 70s when I saw and heard one being played by a crosslegged yogaesque fellow in the classic 7up commercial. It would be a few years later when I ran across a Hugh Tracey Kalimba in a specialty store, I had to have it. Perry, 2006 My husband bought me the Hugh Tracey Treble Kalimba for our second wedding anniversary. We first heard the Kalimba at a World Music Institute concert in NYC and were fascinated by the instrument. We had no idea what it was. I never thought any more about it, but my husband did so he made enquiries at our local music store and was hoping to give it to me for my birthday, but it was so hard to find. Finally he went back to the store after 6 months to find they had one on the shelf all this time--the owner didn't know! Now that I have one I found your website looking for information on how to play it. You have a lot of good information on your website, and I say "thank you." I have purchased a Kalimba Fundamentals book & CD, a song book (now I'll need singing lessons!), and your CD. I am looking forward to getting involved with this instrument. Thank you for making it possible. Jo-Anne, 2006 New Pentatonic Kalimba book, K-tabs, a new CD from you and a slew of other interesting CDs -- no doubt about it, Kalimba Magic is flourishing and you can't have too much of a good thing. Love your new Karimba book and the HT TM Alto electric from my last order. Already I want another karimba and your prophecy about an electric karimba at the end of the karimba book has got me excited. Will the electric karimba be mounted on an HT TM board? If you find the time please give me an approximation of the electric karimba debut so I can focus my budget on it. Rick, 2006 I just wanted to let you know I received the E-Alto right away and I have been playing with it since Wednesday when it arrived. I got to spend a good amount of time with the Kalimba this weekend and I am really impressed with the quality of the instrument. My 8 note Mountain Melody Kalimbas seem almost like toys in comparison, although they have held their tune for a very long time and sound good when played together with the Hugh Tracey. For some reason I thought all the extra notes on the Hugh Tracey would make it more difficult to play - boy was I wrong! As you explained in your book most combinations of notes sound good on this instrument. The added range from 8 notes to 15 notes really opens up a lot of possibilities. I am just beginning to go through the exercises in your book - it will take some time to get through all of it, but that's a good thing. The pickup is working great. I have been experimenting with different effects and found a vibes preset on my processor today that I thought worked really great with the Kalimba - eq, chorus, tremolo, and reverb - nice! Thank you very much for the kalimba, the book, your website and the weekly tips. I am looking forward to developing on this instrument. Please keep it up! Thank you, Thank you for the prompt service, great instruction books and wonderful instruments. Also, thanks for the nice note and free Alaska Thumb Picks included in my last order (these thumb nails are almost "trained" now). Thank you, Mark, and God bless your mission. It's about time a proper introduction to both the Kalimba and the Karimba has been made in North America. Great job! Rick, 2006 Just to let you know that I have received the kalimba and its a little gem. Cheers, The first time my husband and I heard kalimba music was last Christmas at Brookgreen Gardens in S.C. There was a candlelit walk, and we heard this BEAUTIFUL MUSIC in the distance, and couldn't wait to see what it was. We stood and watched it being played for a long time and were enthralled with the sheer beauty of it. Vicky, 2006 This stuff sure can infect your spirit in a most positive way. EVEN MY 3YR OLD DAUGHTER LOVES THEM... Greg, 2006 I just wanted to thank you for your great book. I picked up an 8 key kalimba from a novelty shop about 6 months ago. It came with a little cardboard song card and I fell in love with the sounds. I started researching the kalimba and found your site. I recently purchased your book for the 8 note and love it! I let you play it on the cd for me then I play it. I can't believe how easy it is. Again thank you! Which kalimba do you recommend for me to move up to next? Elizabeth, 2006 Bless you, Mark!!! It arrived yesterday, and we are having a blast with it! I think my plan to give them as Christmas presents this year will go over well. You know, I've never touched one before and now it's hard to put it down. The fact that I can make beautiful sounds without really knowing anything about the notes yet, is so fantastically pleasurable. Thank you, so much. Jane, 2006 It's been a pleasure doing business with you, my thanks to you for making it a pleasant journey. I look forward with much delight to playing your wonderful Kalimbas! All my best to you, Education rushing at me in a great melodious cloud. The Kalimba itself is so beautiful, smells nice and has such a gentle sound. I took it to show my therapist and she was enthralled. S. in AZ, 2006 Very much looking forward to picking up my Hugh Tracey TM Alto Kalimba. DO I SOUND LIKE A LITTLE KID ON CHRISTMAS EVE? Good, that is how I feel, I have been putting off this purchase for lack of knowledge. Your site cured me! Thanx again. CJ, 2006 I became so involved with my Alto Hugh Tracy Kalimba, I almost forgot to thank you for the wonderful service. This will be a short note because I so want to get back to amateur playing. It is getting late and I will have to put it down for the night-----OR NOT! The sounds are wonderful, your book and CD, (stopping at track 4 until I improve my timing.) is just what I needed! No, music-reading experience yet I am making progress I never would have thought possible. Gotta get a least one more hour of playing before I call it a night! CJ, 2006 Thank you so very much for this wonderful addition to my life! The Hugh Tracey Alto Kalimba has been a great source of joy. Your book on the fundamentals has made it so much more exciting. I appreciate your words of encouragement about playing freely; Your book and CD are a great place to start - also an excellent place to continue learning! (I would not be as advanced without them) YES, finally an instrument I can play and others recognize the tune! Each time I go back to the original lessons I find myself improving my timing etc. Your book and CD are a wonderful resource, thank you for the time and effort you have put into producing them. Thanx for providing me a way to play, not just listen to music! My employees also thank you! CJ, 2006 I learned more on your site about this instrument in 20 minutes, than I have been able to find in 2 years! Kim, 2006 Hi Mark, The Kalimba came last week. I love it ! it sounds absolutely fantastic. A month ago i bought one at a store in Chicago for $24.00. I'm VERY glad i discovered you guys on the web and purchased the Hugh Tracy Kalimba... there's no comparison. The $24.00 one might make a nice paperweight now! Anyways, i downloaded the music you sent me and am practicing with the singing birds this Spring. It seems its almost impossible to play something bad on the thing, it's so well tuned and magical sounding. Planning on purchasing the alto book soon. Steve, 2006Your books are very well put together and your tablature is very good. I think a lot of people will be able to benefit from this work and you are the first to really address technique on the Hugh Tracey Western tuned kalimbas. N. Scott Robinson, 2006 Note:N. Scott Robinsonis a professional percussionist and kalimba & karimba player. My wife is a classically trained pianist, but she has never gotten into the kalimba -- until last night! She was playing the music in your book, and we were having so much fun that we had to force ourselves to put the kalimbas down to go to bed! Paraphrased from phone conversation with Jimmie, a long-time kalimba enthusiast, 2006 Please find the enclosed check to cover the cost of the kalimba and book and shipping. Thank you so much for making this possible. I look forward and am ever hopeful of doing bigger transactions with you in the future. I really think our patients are going to fall in love with the kalimba. Evelyn, 2006 Let me tell you, the very first day I rec'd the Kalimba, riding home with my husband from work, I played along with every song, from jazz to rap to gospel that came on the radio. This is a magical and mystical instrument! I can't say I have ever mastered any instrument as I play just about every one out there, but this Kalimba makes it so easy to sound as if I've mastered it! So now you have one with a pick-up. What's a girl to do? I guess I just have to buy one! Thanks, Maryanne, 2006 What an amazing instrument! The tone is soul healing to say the least. The instruction book has been very easy to follow...we fight over who's turn it is to use it. We also love your CD...we do a fair amount of driving due to our very rural location.. the kids and I are very easily overwhelmed by the noises and congestion of the world and are always looking for truly "quieting and calming" music, esp. when driving. It is hard to find music that fits in that category without putting one to sleep. Your CD is our new favorite. I frequently hear requests from the back seat....Play Mark's CD... It is truly beautiful. Ronda, 2006 Thank you for putting me on your email list. I always learn something from you. I have to tell you again how cool it is to go from being the only one I know with a Hugh Tracey kalimba to having such a wealth of resources available to me. Over Easter weekend I let my 10-year old niece try out my Treble kalimba, which she liked. After tinkering with it a bit, she said 'Do you have any written music I could play?' I smiled to myself as I pulled out my Treble Fundamentals book. As she easily followed along with 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star' I just sat and appreciated this new world where the kalimba is a real instrument and not a toy. Thanks again for making this possible. Sharon, 2006 It [the kalimba] is awesome; the crowd enjoyed being introduced to it. I played an African inspired 3:2 polyrhythmic improv I wrote and performed at my Senior Recital (1981) at the Crane School of Music for them. I look forward to doing business with you in the future ... Paul, 2006 I love k[a]limbas and I just bought a treble kalimba which had your card in it. I'm so excited and will be ordering your books. Kevin, 2006 Love the products and would like to be on your mailing list regarding new items such as the Karimba book. I am extremely interested in developing my karimba playing and loved the sound bites and videos. Alex, 2006 I just wanted to thank you for sending the Karimba, it arrived yesterday. It's absolutely beautiful, and sounds just gorgeous. I'm a very happy customer! Mark 2006 I just got back into town and haven't been able to put my Alto Kalimba down. The book is very easy to follow. Also, thanks for the CD. It's also a bit of a learning tool. Well, I'm off to the wilderness for 7 months for work. I'm looking forward to trying to master my two new instruments while living in the mountains. Good luck, and like I said I'll steer anyone I know looking for a Kalimba your way. Karlson, 2006 Hi Mark, I received everything the other day and am already using and loving the new book. Thanks for the pages for the Karimba, I'll be ordering that soon. Pat, 2006 Thank you for the transcription [I wrote out Jesu on Treble for John], I tried and it and it works well. It will sound even better when I receive your Kalimba this week. I bought one on EBay before Christmas and it turned out to be a bummer. The old saying is true, "you get what you pay for." Thanks again for taking the time to send me the piece. John, 2006 Note that John was ALMOST my very first web customer - he placed an order with me, but got cold feet when he saw the Pakistani "large rosewood kalimba" for sale on eBay for $25. Later on, he bought my book (theTreble Fundamentals Book works for the Pakistani kalimba), but he couldn't make it sound like the CD that comes with the book. Later still, he bought a Hugh Tracey Treble Kalimba, and was a happy camper. Quite frankly, you're doing a great job and I just encourage you to continue with putting out the product, it will pay off well for you in the long run. Pat, 2006 I'm impressed by your multi-instrumentalism. I hadn't realized you played all the parts. I really like your recorder and bass, and all the tunes are tight. And I like your sound-hole work on the kalimba, and the kalimba leads are tasty. So, how do you do live performance? Scotty, 2006 I've been trying to find the right people to make this music happen live for years, and I'm finally getting some of the right people together, so something good will be happening soon!Note that Scotty Hayward is Kalimbaman! I have performed under the name Kalimba Man, and we agreed not to sue each other if I used a space in between "Kalimba" and "Man" and he didn't. (Or was it the other way around?) --Mark I quit playing for a couple of weeks and missed it. When I picked it up, the music was so soothing and spurred me on to wish to learn more. Thanks always for your kindness and inspiration. Elena 2006 Was just thinking about you as the kalimba arrived safe and sound today. Have already played it and it has a lovely sound also done some recording with it too. Will send you an MP3 when it's finished!! I also really appreciated your thoughtful note, enclosed with the kalimba. Overall, I'm delighted with it. Thanks alot. Jeff 2006 Jeff was one of my first international sales, and we were both on pins and needles, as the kalimba spent longer in the mail than either of us had thought! —Mark "Kicked in the Snow" is lovely! And thanks very much for putting up kalimba tabs online; I think you're the only one to have done so! Laura Barrett, 2006 Laura Barrett is an up-and-coming kalimba-player/song-writerin Toronto, look for her music in the future.—Mark
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