MOXEÑO (C)

Very common instrument in the Cantón Mohosa Bolivian region and other Andean areas. 

Its body is made of bamboo cane, thick enough to produce an A major, that is to say: the octave below A from the traditional Quena tuned to G. 

It has a shorter and thinner pipe, connected to the main body through a duct which consists of a cut or labium and a wooden plug. 

The air circulation through the internal channel up to where is stopped by the labium is what produces the instrument characteristic sound. 

It is made in different sizes: D-C-A-G. The most primitive ones consist of four holes while the modern ones consist of six or seven. 

They can be used by fingering in a similar way as if it were a Quena, producing melodies, or as a bass instrument, producing long accompaniment notes. 

To play it in the correct way, due to its length, the instrument needs to be placed horizontally, as if it were a flute, so that the player’s fingers are close to the holes, being able to cover them without so much effort. 

Up to two octaves can be obtained blowing softly for the first one and a bit more strongly for the higher second one. 

 

Measures: 74cm x 4,5cm / 29” x 2”