The members of Kusi Taki play traditional instruments including the sikus (panpipes), quena (flute), charango (similar to mandolin), bombo (drum), and guitar. Most Andean instruments, particularly the flutes and drums, date back to Incan times or earlier. Stringed Instruments were initially introduced by the Spanish, and the Andeans later adapted them to local conditions and materials.

Pipes and Flutes

• Pan Pipes: These are made of reed, and are a variety of sizes, producing a variety of pitches. Zamponas, and Toyos are panpipes of different sizes.  They are played by blowing across the top end of the pipe which produces a breathy sound similar to the sound achieved by blowing across the top of a bottle.  Andean pipes are rafted together into two halves. A single musician often plays both halves, but it can be broken apart so that two musicians may weave the melody back and forth.  You can hear Oscar and Michael interweave the melody on Amazones from their newest CD, Amanecer.

• Rondador: An unusual set of pan pipes. The reeds are cut and assembled in such a way as to play harmony and melody simultaneously, as on a harmonica.  Oscar plays this instrument on Llactamanta from the CD, Amanecer.

• Quena: One of the oldest flutes in the Americas.  It is a simple flute with 6 finger-holes and thumb hole, but no mouthpiece.  It can be made from ebony or bone.  The Quenacho is similar, but larger, and deeper in pitch. 

Percussion

• Bombo is a large deep drum with llama skin on one side and goat skin on the other.  It produces a deep muffled note.

• Chajchas is a rattle made from the toe nails of sheep, goat or llama.  The nails are sown onto a piece of cloth so that they may be worn on ankles or wrists to enhance dances.

Stringed Instruments

• Charango: A very small 10-stringed guitar, traditionally made from the shell of an armadillo, although the Kusi Taki charangos are made of wood. 

• Quattro: A small, 4-stringed guitar. (Suissi’s was hand-crafted by her husband, Tom.)  It is featured as the rhythm on La Partida, from the Amanecer CD.

• Spanish Guitar: Assimilated into Andean culture as a supporting rhythm and bass instrument.

• Ecuadorian Bandolin: Instrument with 15 strings, tuned in sets of three.  It is common throughout South America and the Caribbean Islands.  It is derived from the Persian laud, which traveled to Spain in 710 AD, and from there to South America. The Bandola is featured on La Partida from the CD, Amanacer.

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