The sound of Peru in eight musical instruments

Discover the wind , strings and percussion instruments that create the music of your country

Peruvian music unites us from a distance, sounds that fill you with memories and happy feelings for your country. Get to know some native instruments in the following list and discover which regions they come from.

Charango

This small guitar of approximately 63 centimeters was created in the Andean area of Peru after the arrival of the Spanish. Currently it is played more frequently in Apurímac, Huancavelica, Cusco, Arequipa, Puno and especially Ayacucho; where this musical instrument can have less or more than the five pairs of double strings that characterize it.

Zampoña

The musical instrument of the Wari culture appeared in the 5th century and has remained valid until today in the Andean regions of southern Peru: Ayacucho, Cusco, Apurímac and Puno. The zampoña is made up of 13 tubes joined in parallel, each one has different diameters and lengths, this allows the variation in its sound when it is played.

Cajon

It is a percussion instrument of Afro-Peruvian origin, characteristic for its rectangular shape and because people must sit on it to play it. It is said to have been created by slaves in the fourteenth century and became known in the early nineteenth century with the expansion of black rhythms such as the celebration, which is currently very popular on the Central Coast, especially in towns like San Luis. de Cañete and El Carmen de Chincha.

Quena

When the Inca empire reigned, the quena melodies spread throughout the Tahuantinsuyo. Today it is a musical symbol in the central Sierra, places like Junín, Huancavelica, Huánuco and Pasco; they nurture their different folk styles with the sweet sound that comes out of the seven holes of this ancient wind instrument, which is usually made of reed, wood or bone.

Andean harp

The harp was brought by the conquistadors and adapted by the Peruvian natives of the Andes. At present it is played mostly from Áncash to the south of Cusco, and is the base instrument in the sung huaynos. There are several models of this traditional musical instrument, among the best known are the rounded of Ayacucho and the harp of Huancayo with a wider shape.

Pututu

The chasquis announced their arrival at each checkpoint on the Inca Trail by playing this wind instrument, made with a large conch shell that emits a powerful sound. Today it is still used in Andean regions such as Cusco, where it is unmissable during the Inti Raymi and the ceremonies for Easter.

Clarín Cajamarquino

This wind instrument can measure up to four meters long, it is mostly used in the Cajamarca countryside, although in the city some musical groups play it during their concerts and even rocker Miki González included it in several of their productions. In 2008 the Cajamarcan bugler was declared by the National Institute of Culture (INC) as Cultural Heritage of the Nation.

Bandurria cusqueña

It is a very popular musical instrument in the Imperial City, it usually has four double, triple or quad strings; and it is used to interpret huaynos, qashwas and other traditional genres of this region. According to Andean belief, musicians should tune their bandurria in Cusco while listening to a siren’s song, as this will later allow young girls to fall in love with their songs.

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