Charango

The charango is a small South American stringed instrument of the Andean region, in which initially the dried carapace of an armadillo was used as a resonance chamber. Nowadays, the resonant body is made ​​primarily of wood. The outer shape resembles a guitar, very rarely the lute. The Priminstrumente are usually with a body length of 23 cm smaller than a ukulele. The scale length is then about 35 cm. Larger instruments, also with a deeper sentiment, are found in musical groups often.

History

The roots of the charango is suspected in the Bolivian city of Potosí silver in the 16th century, when people from all over the world came together in this city and brought instruments such as guitars, Vihuelas and lyres. So they are not native to South America, where you knew no strings instruments in pre-Hispanic times. Numerous illustrations in local churches suggest. The name comes from the two words Charanga (about music with brass instruments ) and Charanguero (raw, rough, uncouth ). In 2006, Bolivia has declared the instrument as the musical heritage of Bolivia. On September 4, 2007, the Instituto Nacional de Cultura of Peru, the charango declared cultural heritage of Peru. Originally an armadillo armor was used as a sound box, sound box while you took out of wood in the cities only in remote regions. Today take all professional charango because of the better sound instruments made ​​of wood. Instruments from the armor of the armadillo are still sold to tourists, although some armadillo species are endangered.

Construction

Basically, you can, in the construction between the charango from armadillo ( Quechua: Khirkinchu, Quirquincho ) differ, hollowed block of wood and the guitar analog design. Latter type of building are frequently encountered in Peru (especially Ayacucho, Cuzco and Arequipa as well ), while in Bolivia often charango, which are carved from a single piece of wood and sometimes decorated on its curved base with intricately carved images sees.

Charangos from armadillo are often regarded as sonically inferior to the wooden instruments or even inferior. However, one must consider that in the rural areas, where the Armadillo Charango are still played frequently, a different style of music is cultivated, than what is generally referred to as " Andean music ". There, the charango is played with metal strings and a direct quality comparison is therefore not permitted.

Depending on requirements, the fretboard with 5 to 17 frets (or even some more) is provided.

The voices and the playing style

Is grasped with the left hand while the right hand the five original gut strings, now rarely, metal strings, or even nylon and metal strings plays mixed with different strengths nylon double string. The pitch is not in ascending order, but crossed. The most common mood, charango Tipo or A minor 7- tuning, e " e" a'a' -e " e' -c" c " g'g '(: MI LA MI DO SOL Spanish) is from the first and thinnest at the fifth and thickest double strings. Thereby, it is relatively difficult for guitar usual players to play the instrument plucking. , the third ( middle ) double strings are tuned in octave distance, a deep e ( the string closest to the second string ) and a high e ( the string closest to the fourth string ). All other double strings are tuned in unison pairs ( same height).

Very common is the rhythmic beat technique in which all strings are played together as a chord. Accompanied is the traditional Andean music, such as Cueca, Takirari or Huayno. Held the charango is thereby relatively high with the orchestra at the right chest, alternatively sitting on the right thigh.

Dissemination

By developing a folk style of the entire Andes, Charango spread in modern times far beyond the original area of ​​distribution, so that the instrument today not only in Bolivia and Peru, but also in Ecuador, in the northeast of Argentina and Chile a major role in the Folklore music plays. Through numerous street musicians it became known worldwide.