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Due to its antiquity, richness of variants, and particular sound, Peru’s National Institute of Culture (INC) declared today the quena (traditional flute of South America) as National Cultural Heritage, considering the great transcendence of this indigenous wind musical instrument in traditional Peruvian music.

This instrument has distinguished musically the Andean and Amazonian regions, and it has been a key instrument for the rediscovery and diffusion of Andean music outside of its origin’s place, reason why the quena has become an Andean contribution to the world heritage, indicates INCs directoral resolution.

According to Peru’s list of popular musical instruments, la quena is a vertical flute, open, with an end that can be open-ended or close-ended, and with one thumb hole. This instrument has orifices and a central notch to blow.

The quena has diverse kinds of holes that produce different sounds at the time of blowing through them. And, as it is indicated by the norm, this instrument must not be considered an Andean flute in general terms, instead as one of greater transcendence due to its diffusion and variety.

The resolution also indicates that quenas with different number of holes have been found in Lambayeque and Huánuco, and its use was extended to Puno, Nasca, Huancavelica, Cajamarca, Ayacucho and Apurímac, among other areas in Peru.

News source: ANDINA