Thousands of years ago, the Ancient Incas created vibrant melodies with instruments made from bone, bamboo, wood, and other natural materials. Today's instruments are a living evolution of the traditional.

              

Among the most ancient are the panpipes and flutes (zampoña and quena) that echo the soulful sound of wind sweeping through the high altitudes of the Andes. The chajchas, or rattle, made from goat-hooves sewn to a woven band held in the hand, produce a distinctive quivering sound. The guitar, introduced by the Spaniards, creates a warm melodic foundation for the other instruments. The charango, the native version of the Spanish guitar originally crafted from an armadillo shell with five double-strings, has a unique high-pitched tune and lends special accents and flourishes to the music. Finally, the cajón, or box drum, and the bombo provide the music's unique rhythms derived from the animated percussion of the African slaves who were brought to work on the coastal plantations and the gold and silver mines in the Altiplano, as well as the captivating polyrhythms that date back to pre-Columbian times. 

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