THE INSTRUMENTS OF THE ANDES

The traditional instruments of andean music are not only original in appearance and sound, but actually tell a lot about the origins and history of the music. Here are some of the most popular:

CHARANGO: A 10-string mandolin-shaped instrument made from armadillo shell and clay.

QUENA: A vertical flute, tubular in shape, it has six finger-holes in front and one in the back. Quenas are available in a variety of sizes. They can be made of wood or bamboo. The QUENACHO is a bigger version, with lower pitched sound.

SIKUS (or Zampoña): A cane panpipe native to the highlands surrounding lake Titicaca, it has two separate rows of pipes open at one end and closed at the other.

WANKARA: A large, round drum with goat skin stretched across both ends. It has a deep, bass sound.