Latin American Instruments and Music Workshop
Matias Ceballos
What are Zampoñas o Sikus? Sikus (pronounced seekoos), or panpipes, are traditional Andean instruments. They are also called antaras (aunt-aras)in Quechua, one of the indigenous languages of the Andes, and zampoñas (sam-po-nee-as) in Spanish. They are generally made from bamboo shoots which are cut a specific length and tied together. Sikus come in pairs, and both rows of panpipes combine to complete a musical scale. The ira (ee-ra) and arka (are-ka) are the names designated to each member of the pair. In native Andean culture, concepts of complementarity and duality pervade; there is, respectively, a “male” and “female” side to everything in nature. The ira Siku represents the male, and the arka represents the female counterpart. The way the Andean pan flute (or sikus) is played symbolically demonstrates our potential of human harmony. Controlling the breath is to control the mind, and breathing together with interlocking melodies cultivates a non-competitive cooperation. In this workshop, participants learn proper diaphragmatic breathing and technique, history, rhythms and songs.
Matias Ceballos is a NZ-based composer, a multi-instrumentalist musician and a vocalist, originally from the South of Chile. He has been playing music for over 25 years, and recorded a number of albums. His original music work is largely influenced by the roots of the native culture and the traditions of Latin America.
