Jawbone (instrument)

Quijada

Quijada: a jawbone used as a musical instrument
Percussion instrument
Other names Quijada de Burro, Charrasga, Jawbone
Classification

idiophone
Hornbostel–Sachs classification 112.211
(indirectly struck idiophone; scraped sticks without a resonator)
Related instruments

Güiro, güira, reco-reco

The quijada [charrasga, or jawbone in English] is a traditional Latin percussion instrument traditionally made of the jawbone of either a mule, horse, or donkey.[1] The jawbone is cleaned of tissue and dried to make the teeth loose and act as a rattle. To play, a musician holds one end in one hand and strikes the other with either a stick or their hand; this causes the teeth to rattle against the bone creating a loud, untuned sound, specific to this instrument.[2] It is used in music in most of Latin America, including Mexico, Peru, El Salvador, Ecuador, and Cuba.[2]

Historical and cultural content

While it is used in most Latin America, the quijada originated with the Africans brought to the Americas during the colonial era.[2] It is believed that it was first introduced in Peru, making it an Afro-Peruvian instrument.[3] It is a mix of African and Indigenous cultures, that created an instrument that gained value for the people of Latin America.

The instrument is used in traditional and contemporary Latin music; an example is a song played in Oaxaca, Mexico in which the quijada keeps the beat. The quijada de burro (guijada made of donkey jaw) is most often used at carnivals and religious festivals.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Jawbone". Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary. Retrieved 2013-09-15.
  2. 1 2 3 Scruggs, TM (2007). "El Salvador". Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2013-09-15.
  3. ↑ Ma, Eve. "A Guide To Afro-Peruvian Musical Instruments". Sounds and Colours. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
  4. ↑ "Quijada de Burro". Retrieved 23 September 2013.

Further reading

External links

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