Andean Highland Singing Glossary

Andean Plateau Singing is a folk soprano singing style created by the Indians living on the plateau.

An introduction to Andean highland singing:

The vast majority of the inhabitants of the Andean highlands are Indians, and there is a relatively large cultural survival of Indians, especially Incas. Most Andean highland music utilizes a chromatic-free pentatonic scale, with more melodic descents.

There were three types of music during the Inca period, one known as Huanca, which was the music used for religious rituals and holiday ceremonies; one known as Harawi, which was the dirge sung during funerals or the lyrical songs of life; and one known as Wayano, which referred to all the music of the dances.

Andean highland singing is based on these traditions and has evolved with the times; it is a type of folk soprano singing in the Andean highlands that has been passed down from generation to generation.

The characteristics of Andean highland singing:

It is characterized by the use of more florid, loud and clear high-pitched tone, sometimes like a bird singing, sometimes like a person whistling, some like the high mountains of the gale in the whistling, the expressive power is very rich in the world is also rare, the Peruvian ancient capital of the Cusco region there are a group of such singers, "galloping eagle " is a piece they often sing.

The main musical instruments of Andean highland singing:

1. The reed pipe

The reed pipe is one of the oldest musical instruments in the Andean highlands. Ancient Indians used to use wood, stone, clay and metal to make reed pipes, and in modern times they are mostly made from bamboo, reeds, sugar cane and other plants. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from 6 to 17 pipes. Soprano xiao pronunciation of slender, soft, bass xiao tone majestic thick and broad.

2, the harp flute

Harp flute is also the Andean plateau is characterized by a variety of musical instruments, it can be divided into a concave mouthpiece and a mouthpiece of the harp flute. The former is known as the Gayna, which was made of animal leg bones in ancient times. In modern times, it is mostly made of bamboo and wood. It generally has 6-7 tone holes, tone rough, loud and clear often.

3, Chalango

Chalango is a soprano plucking hand, shaped like a small guitar, the sound area close to the Mandolin. The use of 10 strings, 2 strings for a group. This is a mixture of two class teeth and Indian colors of local instruments, its tone loud and clear fresh, pleasant to the ear, has become an indispensable instrument in the folk band.