QUENA (ANDEAN VERTIKAL FLUTE)

INDIVIDUAL COURSES AND WORKSHOPS

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It is an instrument of pre-Columbian origin, which, nowadays, is widely spread in the Andes. The standard contemporaneous Quena is tempered to the universal musical system (440 Hz) and generally made of bamboo or wood. Its musical interpretation area is broad (from the classical style to folklore, pop and jazz), in such a way that, in principle, it is possible to execute all types of music.

 

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As it is an instrument without a mouthpiece, but that possesses a notch, the production of the first sound might be of some difficulty. However, if you are a wind instrument musician or already have experience with some wind instrument, this will be a minimum difficulty. In the case you have no musical experience the beginning of the course will contain simple preparatory exercises, so that you will quickly be able to play simple melodies from the Andean songbook.

 

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PANORAMA OF THE THEMATIC CONTENTS

  • The quenist´s position, production of sound and several forms of finger positions
  • Pentaphonic and diatonic scales – exercises and studies
  • Musical adornments, articulations and types of vibratos with the quena
  • Analysis of pieces interpreted with the quena
  • The quena´s ethno-history and ethnography, its uses and symbology within the Andean cosmovision
  • Repertory

Listen to Quena

Condor Pasa
by Amanecer Andino

Wallpa Waqay
by R. Thevenot

Coca k’intucha
by Los Indios del Peru

Listen to Quenacho

Allwa
by Marcelo Peña

Listen to Quenacho

Shilica
by Wayanay

The family of Quena in detail

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

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.

Valerio Fernandez and Nacho Choque interprete Qorirukana by R. Thevenot

QUENA

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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.

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.

 

Register

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QUENACHO

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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.

 

QUENILLO

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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.

Register

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