The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-05-27
Indians in Peru
Knew of Jazz


I~--ps.,os and horns. And finally, the
more complex stringed instrument
was developed. The greatest SINGLE
step forward in the history of in
strumental music was the mechanical
production of musical scale. This
game with the pipes. In Peru, evi.
dence is found of the first two types
instruments of percussion and wind
ilstruments-bu SO far nothing has
been found to indicate that the pre-
historic Indians of the region knew
how 10 make music from the vibra.
tions of strings.
In the. American Museum of Nat.
ural History in New York City there
Is large collection of prehistoric
musical instruments of Peru. They
have been carefully studied By
Charles w. Mead, Assistant Curator
OF the Department of Anthropology,
whose findings have been published
IN Il short paper. According to Mead,
no drums have been found in ancient
Peruvian graves. This may be for
N~f~ - >.t~e-Ap NV .fONiCNCs, ClluSI tIldl
the drums, of the time, being made Of
perishable material have all ..disinte-
grated or that because Of some SUI
perstitinn ii was not customary to
bury drums with the dead. Drums.
however, were pictured by the native
artists of the time and described by
early writer's, the evidence showing
that they were Identical in kind with
the drums used to-day in several parts
Of Peru. They were made of skin
stretched over a hoop Of wood or over
one end OF y short section Of tree
trunk followed. out, to u thin cylinder.
Small drums seem to have been the
rule, The drum heads, We're usually
made of the skins of deer and other
animals common to the country.
Copper Bell. /.
\ The bells, Of the, Peruvian jazz
orchestra were. OF. !. copper, with peb-
Dles. for clappers. There were rat
ties. made of small shells, nuts, seeds,
&c. which were. worn attached to the
wrists, ankles and other. parts of. the
body In, dancing. GQprds. filled with
pebbles were used as, hand-rattles.
Shells were struck together, like GYM
balls. The Museum collection also
contains three, small bronze discs,
slightly concavo-conyex, with per-
foratsd PROJECTIONS, by which they,
were :. evidently. suspended. When
struck with. any hard substance they
give out remarkably, clear and
resonant. sound, =
Whereas. among, us the fad Of the
day is. the ukeleie.. the, Peruyians of,
~TIiE GOOD OLp DAYS, delighted
In performing on the ,hpayra puhura.
or, pipes The pipes were open and,
closed., and made. Of bone or cane.
and. In, one, known instance. Of stone.
Flutes Of, cane. or bone and ofi
gourd, were ALSO popular, They were,
carved ip. variety Of fantastic
shapes. A number Of the bone flutes
which have, been found have stop
holes ON the under side. apparently
meant TO be. closed by the thumb.
They are. very primitive Instruments
not producing a true or complete
scale. That the Peruvians were able,
To- realize their shortcomings to ntI
least. some extent appears In the fact
that IN some Instruments attempts toI
correct the scale have been made the
vents have been plugged with. bits
OF gourd and substituted by other
holes, Moreover It, Is to be re.
membered that the age and condition
OF the Instruments, especially those
OF cane have doubtlessly affected the'
tone qualities.