Guacharaca

For the bird, see

Ortalis ruficauda.

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Guacharaca [ɡwatʃaˈɾaka] is a percussion instrument found in Colombia. It is a rasp named after a bird (ortalis guttata) whose call it is said to imitate.^[1]

It is usually made out of the cane-like trunk of a small palm tree. The guacharaca itself consists of a tube with ridges carved into its outer surface with part of its interior hollowed out, giving it the appearance of a tiny, notched canoe. It is played with a fork composed of hard wire fixed into a wooden handle. The guacharaquero (guacharaca player) scrapes the fork along the instrument's surface to create its characteristic scratching sound. A typical guacharaca is about as thick as a broomstick and as long as a

Ortalis ruficauda) bird's singing. During the mid 20th century it was adopted by vallenato and cumbia musicians and today it is most often associated with these musical styles.

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Guacharacas provide a steady rhythmic backbone for all varieties of vallenato and cumbia.

Playing the guacharaca requires rhythm, speed and coordination. The instrument is held in the non-dominant hand and rests on the shoulder, while the other hand moves the wire fork up and down to create a pattern. Thus, depending on the music the movement will change which can increase the difficulty in playing.

References

1. ISBN 0-253-33951-0
   .

Further reading

• George List, "Performing Styles in Folk Music and Dance: The Mbira in Cartagena", Journal of the International Folk Music Council, Vol. 20. (1968), pp. 54–59.
• George List, "African Influences in the Rhythmic and Metric Organization of Colombian Costeño Folksong and Folk Music", Latin American Music Review / Revista de Música Latinoamericana, Vol. 1, No. 1. (Spring - Summer, 1980), pp. 6–17.

External links

• Larkinthemorning.com
• Historical Museum of Southern Florida
• FestivalVallenato.com (in Spanish)
• Parrandavallenata.com (in Spanish)
• Worlddiscoveries.net

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