the Inca. The guitar was introduced to the Americas by the Spanish and the use of armadillo shells for the body of the instrument is uniquely native American. It is believed that the soul of the animal is kept alive by playing music and, in some charangos, the coarse hairs sparsely covering the shell continue to grow long after the instrument is made. The charango has an even tinier cousin named 'waylacho' (why-law-cho) and it produces a very high pitch. On the other hand, its brothers 'ronroco' and 'rocongo' are both large and lower sounding instruments but are crafted in the same manner as the charango. Only recently have wooden models of the charango family become common due to the decline in the armadillo population.
ZampoñaThe 'zampoña' is known in other parts of the world as 'pan pipe'. It is a series of bamboo reeds, each tuned to a specific note, and tied together. Zampoñas are played in pairs and come in a family of sizes ranging from approximately 5 inches to 5 feet in length. The smallest are known as 'chillis' or 'icas' and the largest are 'toyos'. It takes strong lungs to play the zampoña. The musician blows across and down the hollow reeds in the same way one would play a coke bottle. The larger the bamboo, the more powerful the musician's lungs must be. |
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QuenaThe 'quena' is the Andean version of the flute. It has a wide range of sounds which can evoke sadness as well as happiness. Originally constructed of animal bones or bamboo shoots, the quena today is made of wood. The quena also varies in size and pitch. The smallest is the 'quenilla' and the largest is the 'quenacho'. |
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TarkaThe 'tarka' is an ancient wooden flute used for religious ceremonies and dances. It makes an eerie sound and existed long before the Spanish invasion. |
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Chác-ChásThe 'chác-chás' or 'chullus' (chew-use) are rattles made of dozens of goat hooves. The hooves are tied to a strip of cloth and may be worn around the wrists or hand-held. |
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Bombo LegüeroThe 'bombo legüero' is the oldest percussion instrument used by man. It is traditionally made of a hollowed tree trunk and covered with cured animal skins such as goat, sheep, or cow. The role of the bombo in South American music is very important because it sets the tempo and pulse of the music. |
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ChauchaThe 'chaucha' is a giant wild pod up to two feet long that is dried and filled with seeds or beans. It is used as a rattle in traditional Andean melodies. |
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Palo de LluviaThe 'palo de lluvia' (you-via), or "rain stick" is a giant bamboo reed measuring up to six feet in height with an especially magical sound. Inside the instument are dozens of sticks placed diagonally and put in place by drilling holes in the bamboo. Once the sticks are in place, small dried beans, rocks, or seeds are added. The two ends of the bamboo are then sealed and turning the stick upside down causes the beans to fall and hit the criss-crossed sticks. This is what produces the mystical rainfall sounds of the palo de lluvia. |
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CajonThe 'cajon' is a percussion instrument that was crafted by the Black people in Peru. It is a wooden box with a soundhole in back. The player sits on top of it and strikes the front with his hands. |
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CajitaThe 'cajita' is another percussion instrument developed by the Black people in Peru. It is also made out of wood, but it is smaller than the cajon. One plays the cajita by opening and closing the top lid to the rythm of the music, while striking it with a stick. |
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