Exploring Ancient Maya Musical Instruments
Mayan Music
The Indian civilizations of South and Central America had a vibrant musical heritage. The Mayas used a variety of wind and percussion instruments, such as flutes, whistles, trumpets, rattles, bone and gourd rasps, and drums. These instruments are mentioned in texts and illustrated in Maya art. Among the most fascinating discoveries is the Maya whistle.
A whistle flute, sometimes called a fipple flute, is a flute blown from the end. Air is sent through a simple mouthpiece against the sharp edge of a hole cut in the pipe below the mouthpiece. It was often made of clay or wood. There is even an example of one made from bird bones. Finger holes make more than one pitch possible. Whistle flutes were common.
Ocarinas are flutes in the shape of animals. The word ocarina comes from the Spanish, who settled in the Central American country of Costa Rica, rich in rainforest animals.
The ancient inhabitants of Costa Rica crafted ocarinas that represented birds, armadillos, owls, bats, tapirs, monkeys, and other rainforest creatures.
Today, modern Latin American artists make ocarinas inspired by the ancient ones. The instruments are played by blowing in the small hole at the end, covering the four holes on the body with your fingers, and leaving the large hole at the end uncovered.
When fingers are lifted off any of the four holes on the body, varying sounds are created. The sounds made are similar to the calls of Costa Rican birds.
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