This Andean trumpet and also the Quechuan word for snail is traditionally made from conch shell of the adult Strombus galeatus, as well as animal horn, and emits a beautifully eerie sound with several natural harmonics with group tritonic music. Dating back at least 3,000 years, playing is common in Bolivia, Peru, and the highlands of Ecuador. On the Alti Plano it is used by the jilaq’ata (community leader) to introduce a dance called the waynu, performed as a symbolic offering to Pachamama (Mother Earth).
The pututu form can be from conch or horn
The sound has an eerie, vibrational drone which has a ceremonial, meditational quality. Here is some footage in Chavín de Huántar and the city of Cuzco, home of ancient Incan site Machu Picchu in Peru:
Experimental Peruvian musician Andres Durand here experiments with the pututu inside the temple of Chavín:
And here, also featuring instruments such a the mama quena, whistle vessel and jungle flute, is his album of meditational drone music, Vibration 432, including a particular pututu track:
So then, any more pieces featuring the rare sound of the pututu? Feel free to share any further ones from any form of music, or even film, art or other contexts in comments below.
You can also get in touch the contact page, and also visit us on social media: Song Bar Twitter, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube. and Song Bar Instagram. Please subscribe, follow and share. New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...
Song Bar is non-profit and is simply about sharing great music. We don’t do clickbait or advertisements. Please make any donation to help keep the Bar running: