| Bolivia is a country in South America located | | | | |
| at the Andes mountains. It has a significant | | | | quena |
| Native American population which mixed | | | | |
| Spanish cultural elements with their | | | | tarka or tharqa |
| ancestors' traditions. The Spanish-speaking | | | | |
| population mainly follows the Western | | | | pinkillo |
| customs. | | | | |
| | | | skin drums |
| Festivals | | | | |
| | | | bronze gongs |
| Pagan rites from the pre-Columbian era are | | | | |
| still common during the religious festivals | | | | copper bells |
| of the Indians. The clothing used during the | | | | |
| festivals reminds the visitor of the | | | | charango: Has five pairs of strings and looks |
| pre-Columbian Indians and the 16th century | | | | like a small guitar. Traditionally it was |
| Spaniards. | | | | made from the shells of armadillos, but today |
| | | | it is mostly made of wood. |
| Dances | | | | |
| | | | The quena (quechua: qina, sometimes also |
| Many dances and songs contain elements from | | | | written "kena" in English) is the traditional |
| both the native and the Mediterranean | | | | flute of the Andes. Usually made of bamboo, |
| culture; obviously they suffered a strong | | | | it has 6 finger holes and one thumb hole and |
| Spanish influence during colonial times. | | | | is open on both ends. To produce sound, the |
| | | | player closes the top end of the pipe with |
| Clothing | | | | the flesh between his chin and lower lip, and |
| | | | blows a stream of air downward, along the |
| It is fashionable among Bolivian Andean women | | | | axis of the pipe, over an elliptical notch |
| of indigenous descent wear a skirt called a | | | | cut into the end. |
| pollera. It was originally a Spanish peasant | | | | |
| skirt that the colonial authorities forced | | | | The Quenacho (also "kenacho" in English) is a |
| the indigenous women to wear. Now it is also | | | | larger, lower-toned version of the quena and |
| a symbol of pride in being indigenous and is | | | | made the same way. |
| also considered a status symbol. | | | | |
| | | | Other flutes |
| Another fashion is the bowler hat, which was | | | | |
| adopted from the British. The position of the | | | | Other Andean flutes include : |
| hat can indicate a woman's marital status and | | | | |
| aspirations. | | | | The pinquillo, which is similar in look and |
| | | | operation to a recorder; |
| Music | | | | |
| | | | The tarka (or tharqa), which also operates |
| Music in the Andean regions is played during | | | | like a recorder but is comparatively shorter |
| the festivals and the dances. Some tunes | | | | and quite angular in shape, requires greater |
| contain strong Spanish influences. | | | | breath, and has a darker, more penetrating |
| | | | sound; |
| The most common musical instruments are: | | | | |
| | | | The moseno, a dual-tube bamboo flute that has |
| sicu (also "sicus") or zampona | | | | a deep sound. |