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INCA MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS: THE BEST GUIDE
Within the rich diversity of sounds that are today’s inheritance from ancient Inca Musical Instruments, undoubtedly these instruments stand out as some of the most distinctive not just for Latin Americans, but music lovers around the world that have a chance of visiting one of the cultural epicenters of Andean culture, Cusco.
The Andean region represents one of the most unique corners of Peru and Latin American music, imbued with identity through its instruments and the peculiarities of its tones.
Not only do shared musical features bind Cusco and the Andes region, but connections exist across other cultural spheres like gastronomy, religion, customs and indigenous art too. The Andes’ tremendous diversity renders its culture staggeringly rich and unique and Natourandes will delve today in this plethora of sounds with you.
Aerophones
Siku or Zampoña
The siku or zampoña (ziku, zanca) is a defining inca musical instrument crafted from cane. In Aymara it translates to “sound-making tube” – an apt name for its design of two descending rows of pipes, each pipe producing a distinct note.
Two types are distinguished in the performance of this instrument: the arca, normally of seven tubes, and the ira, normally of 6, although according to the type of siku these quantities can vary notably.
It has its origin around 4000 BC in the Caral culture of Peru, from there it spread to other cultures such as Wari, from where it extended and developed in different forms and styles throughout the continent.
While its precise origins are unknown, the siku boasts an ancient legacy. Varying in shape, size and timbre, bands playing interwoven siku lines create a symphonic effect:
Tarka
The tarka is an Aymara wind inca musical instrument from Bolivia that has preserved nearly its entire original design from ancient times.
Carved from a single octagonal wood piece, with six fingerholes plus the blowhole and embouchure, the tarka produces a singularly hollow, harmonically-rich timbre.
Ubiquitous at festive celebrations and carnivals, its unmistakable sound evokes centuries of tradition.
Quena
The quena may be the most emblematic instrument across the Andes, with origins predating even the Inca civilization. Its tone is unmatched – a hallmark sound of the region.
A wind instrument fashioned from wood, reed or bamboo, the quena’s construction resembles a classical flute. Widely used in contemporary music, it blends traditional and electronic instrumentation.
To play, one must form an oval shape with the lips against the hollow embouchure, allowing air to pass through and produce the signature sound.
Andean Flute
Related to the siku, the Andean flute consists of a single descending row of cane pipes, often arranged in a pentatonic scale.
While the siku’s twin pipes require circular breathing, the Andean flute is played by moving laterally along its length.
Dispersed across the Andes, nuances in construction yield regional variations on its bright, animated tone. Check an example of these inca musical instruments sound mixed with the Antara (a one-row type of Siku or Zampoña).
Chordophones
Charango
To begin with the stringed instruments we’ll go through another of the iconic Inca Musical Instruments, the charango, primarily featured in the highlands of Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile.
A stringed instrument initially built using an armadillo shell body, the modern charango has five double-strings.
Blending indigenous predecessors like the vihuela with colonial influences such as the Canarian timple and five-string guitar, the charango’s origins merge cultures. Today’s wood-bodied charangos are heard across Andean genres like carnavalitos, sayas and huaynos.
Ronroco
A lower-tuned, larger cousin of the charango family, the ronroco hails from Bolivia where it was invented by musician Mauro Nuñez Cáceres.
Later refined by fellow musician and luthier Wilson Hermosa of Los Kjarkas, the ronroco features five double coursed strings and a resonating box around 80 cm long. Hear a piece arranged for this instrument below:
Percussion
Andean Caja (Drum)
Though cajón drums exist worldwide, the Andean caja boasts unique acoustic properties. A small, lightweight wooden body with cowhide or goatskin heads, it features two woven gut snares stretched across the bottom head.
Providing percussive drive for genres like chaya, vidala and baguala, the caja’s resonant depth and snare response conjure the majesty of the Andes when accompanying a solitary voice.
Bombo Legüero
The “Bombo Legüero” is so named for its far-reaching sonic virtues: its resonant boom can reportedly be heard up to two leagues away in open or forested terrain.
This instrument consists of two drumheads or membranes affixed to a wooden cylinder body. The cylinder can be constructed from wood planks or carved from a single piece of wood. The drumheads are commonly made from tanned sheep, goat or kid leather. Struck directly with wooden drumsticks, the membranes produce the bombo’s iconic sound.
The wooden flesh hoops are made from soft woods like palo blanco and guatambú, allowing for easy shaping and quick construction. Leather or cord “tientos” run between the hoops, tensioning the heads and allowing the pitch to be tuned.
Conclusion
It’s important to note that these instruments have variations across the Andes. Fabrication of these inca musical instruments may vary across the andean regions, however, their structure and sounds aren’t too different from each other and the Andean musical feel is well represented in the previous pieces of music that we’ve shared with you in this article.
Natourandes is a tour operator that doesn’t overlook any aspect of our Andean culture, which we’re proud of.
If your desire is to visit Peru in the proximity, contact us and we’ll help you to plan your trip the best way possible!