THE QUENA

The quena is a vertical flute generally used as a soloist instrument.

The size of a standard quena flute is of 38 cm. which can vary slightly, according to the maker, the kind of material and diameter of the pipe.

Generally, the material used is bamboo. However, it is also quite common to see Indian flutes made of turned wood.

Therefore, the sound of each quena can vary very slightly, due to the kind of mouthpiece (Bevel in U, V or C), according to the kind of material and diameter of the pipe.

Thus, the choice depends on the flautist´s taste and the kind of music he wants to interpret.

The contemporaneous quena flute is tuned in G and is transposed in one octave.

Covering part of the orifices and with the already standardized fingerings, one obtains the chromatic scale and all in all, one can obtain all tonalities that exist, including the quarter tones.

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THE QUENACHO

It is an excellent accompaniment to the quena´s acute sound.

In general, it is used in duet, with the quena or also, sometimes, as soloist, in short melodies, inserted with other instruments or voices.

The quenacho is not a transposing instrument and usually it is tuned in D, although, among musicians, there also are quenachos in other tonalities and their approximate length is of 52 cm.

 

 

 

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THE QUENILLO

The quenillo is the smallest of the quena family.

Its acute sound is ideal for introductions, in a soloist manner.

But, it is also used in short melodies, in the interludes, regularly, giving the octave to the tenor and base flutes.

The tuning used is C, but it can also be made in other tonalities, according to the musician´s taste and its average size is of 29 cm.