The Charango-- An Andean Stringed Instrument

For many persons, the bright, rapidlystrummed sound of a Charango, along with the sound of Panpipe flutes, typifies the sound of the musicof the Andean region of South America (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and parts of Chile, Argentina and Colombia.)The charango is asmall lute-like instrument resembling a mandolin, with tennylon strings. It can be strummed, fingerpicked or played with a pick, and canlend itself to a variety of musical styles. The origins of the charango can be traced tomedievalstringed instruments brought to the Andes by Spanish and Portuguese sailors and adventurers. Local indigenouspeople quickly imitated these instruments using available materials, and the charango was born. The birthplaceof the charango is said to be the town of Aiquile, Bolivia, and while thiscan be disputed, it is clear that primitive charango-like instruments had diffused throughout Bolivia andneighboring regions inPeru, Chile and Argentina by the 1700's. The earliest example of a charango I haveseen was a specimen dating to the 1680's in the anthropological museum at the University ofVancouver, British Columbia. It is crudely made from wood from an oldcrate and has four strings. It is interesting to note that this specimenresembles a ukulele, and indeed the charango and ukulele share agemonancestry in the medieval lute-like instruments that were brought by ship to both the Polynesian islands and to the Andes by Europeans.
The charango was typically fashioned by the indigenous people of the Andesout of the shellsofarmadillos--in fact, the Quechua Indian word for charango, kirkinchu,also means "armadillo."Nowadays professionally made charangos are made of a variety of hardwoods, andwhile charangos are still being made of armadillo shells, they cannot match the beauty, tonal quality or durability of charangos made of wood. The charangocan be tunedto a variety of tunings, but one tuning found thoughout the Andean region is EE,AA, Ee, CC, GG. The charango continues to be a popular instrument in the Andean region, andmusic featuring the charango is an important part of the daily spiritual and recreational life of the Quechua (Quichua)and AymaraIndians of the Andes.
BUYING A CHARANGO
In buying a charango, oneshould considerone's purpose in buying a charango. Is itmeant to be a wall-hanger, a decorative piece that will never be played? In that case, an inexpensive instrument will do. Aswith all musical instruments, there are differentgradesof workmanship (student,medium grade, professional.) Aprofessional quality instrument willcost more but will satisfy the tonal demands of a discerning musician.The finest quality instruments are made in Bolivia, and while good instruments are made elsewhere (Ecuador, Peru, Chile) it isBolivia that has the longest tradition of making quality instruments,with entire guilds,neighborhoods and families in Bolivia employed in the construction of charangos. Charangos sold on okay range widelyin quality and price-- study the pictures and descriptions carefully and look for instruments made of quality materials andsolid, careful workmanship. Soundholes and purflings should be inlaid, not painted on, and a good instrument has tuning machines, not wooden pegs for tuners. Charangos made of armadillo shellsare generally tonally inferior to ones made of wood, although they make fine conversation pieces. Charangos geein a variety of sizes; small charangosare called walaychos, and large ones are called ronroccos.
A variety of recorded musicexists for the charango. Well-known charango players include the Bolivians Eddy Navia, Bonny Alberto Teran, Ernesto Cavour, among many others. Other great players include Horacio Duran from Chile, and Jaime Torres from Argentina.The Oscar-winning geposer Gustavo Santoallalla from Argentina features the charango and ronroccoprominently in his music. Other examples of music featuring the charango are CD's from Los Kjarkas, Bolivia Mantaand Luzmila Carpio, and the Italian groupTrencito de Los Andes.