
Andean instruments, though very little-known by a large majority, are undoubtedly one of the fundamental pillars of Andean music. Becoming familiar with their qualities and their astounding diversity reveals the creative and artistic possibilities of this kind of music. This knowledge also allows a deeper insight into the meaning of each cane and each drum skin in a certain community. For the many different peoples that make and play these instruments retell their history and traditions through them, as well as using them to explain their interpretation of the world and the significance of life.
It is about discovering each instrument, the way it is constructed and performed, its legends and customs, its taboos... But more than anything, it is about its magic — the secret power of captivating a great number of people all over the world, even nowadays.
Instruments – Table of contents
Issue 20 (Jul.-Aug. 2014) – Pífanos & chirimías
Instruments: Andean aerophones (08): transverse flutes • Instrument: Gaita of Otavalo
Issue 19 (May.-Jun. 2014) – Andean fusions | Music of Tarija
Instruments: Andean instruments: Borrowings, adaptations and innovations • Instrument: "Andean" saxes and clarinets
Issue 18 (Mar.-Apr. 2014) – Andean music outside the Andes | Chaya in La Rioja
Instruments: Andean chordophones (04): plucked instruments • Instrument: The bandurria cusqueña
Issue 17 (Jan.-Feb. 2014) – Harps and violins in the Andes
Instruments: Andean chordophones (03): harps from the Andes • Instrument: The Andean violin
Issue 16 (Sep.-Oct. 2013) – The guitar, the guitarrón and the tiple
Instruments: Andean chordophones (02): the guitar and its tunings • Instrument: The tiple
Issue 15 (Jul.-Aug. 2013) – The charango: its music and its performers
Instruments: Andean chordophones (01): charangos • Instrument: The khonkhota
Issue 14 (Mar.-Apr. 2013) – The quena: its music and its performers
Instruments: Andean aeorphones (07): "rural" quenas • Instrument: The quenacho and the quenali
Issue 13 (Jan.-Feb. 2013) – Introduction to the sikuris music
Instruments: Andean aerophones (06): tropas of sikus • Instrument: The tablasiku
Issue 12 (Nov.-Dec. 2012) – Afro-Bolivian music
Instruments: Andean membranophones: general comments • Instrument: The drums of the saya
Issue 11 (Jul.-Aug. 2012) – The Andean Carnival
Instruments: Andean aerophones (05): tropas (groups) of tarkas • Instrument: Tarkas and anatas
Issue 10 (May.-Jun. 2012) – Music of the Mapuche communities of Chile and Argentina
Instruments: Andean aerophones (04): natural horns • Instrument: The trutruka and the ñolkiñ
Issue 09 (Mar.-Apr. 2012) – Music of the Aymara communities of Bolivia
Instruments: Andean aerophones (03): small pinkillos • Instrument: The alma pinkillo or muquni
Issue 08 (Nov.-Dec. 2011) – Music of the Quechua communities of Bolivia
Instruments: Andean aerophones (02): large pinkillos • Instrument: The senqatanqana
Issue 07 (Sep.-Oct. 2011) – Andean music of Chile
Instruments: Andean aerophones (01): ensembles of notched flutes • Instrument: Lichiguayos
Issue 06 (Jul.-Ago. 2011) – Andean music of Colombia
Instruments: Andean idiophones: General comments • Instrument: Maracas
Issue 05 (May.-Jun. 2011) – Andean music of Peru
Instruments: Andean chordophones: General comments • Instrument: Andean harp
Issue 04 (Mar.-Apr. 2011) – Andean music of ArgentinaInstruments: Andean aerophones: Current distribution • Instrument: The erque
Issue 03 (Jan.-Feb. 2011) – Andean music of EcuadorInstruments: Andean aerophones: History (2) • Instrument: The rondador
Issue 02 (Sep.-Oct. 2010) – Andean music of BoliviaInstruments: Andean aerophones: History (1) • Instrument: The siku
Issue 01 (Jul.-Aug. 2010) – The music of the AndesInstruments: Andean instruments • Instrument: The quena