The Session >> Discussions >> Has anyone heard of playing the Andean kena/kenacho in place of a low whistle?
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Has anyone heard of playing the Andean kena/kenacho in place of a low whistle?
Has anyone heard of playing the Andean kena/kenacho in place of a low whistle?
I'm a collector and connoisseur of Andean wind instruments (the kena and kenacho in particular). I love the sound of the low whistle and the irish flute but I think the Andean kena/kenacho would sound wonderful on Irish traditional tunes. The basic fingering and general physics are the same for the kenacho, the low whistle, and the irish flute. I've been wanting to try my hand at playing some tratitional celtic tunes on the kena and kenacho. The kena is in g major and the kenacho is in D (like the low whistle and Irish flute). As with the whistles, kenachos do come in other keys, although D and C are most common. I was curious as to whether anyone else out there has experimented with these types of instruments playing Irish traditional music.
Re: Has anyone heard of playing the Andean kena/kenacho in place of a low whistle?
I just find the low D's a bit more consistent in tone production. My qena has laways behaved like an unpredictable flute: some days I can make it sound great others not so. Some days its really flute-like in tone, another day more reedy like an oboe almost. It's certainly an intruiging instrument, and I love it when some nosy eejit picks it up for a blow and can't figure out how a totally hollow tube makes the sound you've just been making! One fellah actually looked down round his feet in case he'd dropped something out when he picked it up.....
Re: Has anyone heard of playing the Andean kena/kenacho in place of a low whistle?
I bought a semi-souvenir Quena (in G - a Kenacho, perhaps? 6 finger-holes + 1 thumb-hole) at the Kingston Green Fair near London about 12 years ago. There are some great photos of a friend of mine pulling his mouth into all manner of contortions trying to get a sound out of it. It still takes me all my patience just to produce a note, so I never get round to thinking about fingering. Even my leaky Irish flute is easy by comparison.
Re: Has anyone heard of playing the Andean kena/kenacho in place of a low whistle?
The kenacho and kena both have rather large finger holes and a wider bore than a whistle, so they tend to have more volume and melower tone on the low end (especially the kenacho). I bought mine through an Andean musician based in Albuquerque who imports handmade instruments from Bolivia. The web site is www.andeannation.com. My kenacho is made from a dark hardwood similar to rosewood called jacaranda and cost me $50. It was not tuned to standard pitch when I got it (it was flat). I adjusted it by filing the notch and I also re-shaped the notch more to my preference (based on a professional peruvian kena that I have). It is now one of my favorite instruments. Another good source for good quality Andean wind instruments is www.rumillajta.com.
Re: Has anyone heard of playing the Andean kena/kenacho in place of a low whistle?
Having played the kena and kenacho for several years now, I would say that getting a good tone consistently (especially on the upper register) is definitly not easy. I find the challenge of staying relaxed and getting a clear, non-shrill tone, with low volume on the upper register of the kena is a challenge. That is what I like about the instrument. I find the lower register on the kenacho fairly easy, though it takes some air-flow volume. It has the deep, haunting quality of a native american flute. The biggest challenge for me on the kenacho, is the size and spacing of the finger holes. I've been making the painstaking and grueling switch over to a piper's grip (at least on my right hand) which is a real chore for a guy who has played concert flute with fingertips for over 20 years. I'd really like to hook up with some experienced low whistle/kena/kenacho players to refine my fingering technique and posture.
Has anyone heard of playing the Andean kena/kenacho in place of a low whistle?
Has anyone heard of playing the Andean kena/kenacho in place of a low whistle?
I'm a collector and connoisseur of Andean wind instruments (the kena and kenacho in particular). I love the sound of the low whistle and the irish flute but I think the Andean kena/kenacho would sound wonderful on Irish traditional tunes. The basic fingering and general physics are the same for the kenacho, the low whistle, and the irish flute. I've been wanting to try my hand at playing some tratitional celtic tunes on the kena and kenacho. The kena is in g major and the kenacho is in D (like the low whistle and Irish flute). As with the whistles, kenachos do come in other keys, although D and C are most common. I was curious as to whether anyone else out there has experimented with these types of instruments playing Irish traditional music.
# Posted on November 18th 2005 by jasonlburnfield
Re: Has anyone heard of playing the Andean kena/kenacho in place of a low whistle?
Sure. Play Irish music on 'em all the time. I've made a few. They're neat.
Why want to try it, why not just do it? That's what I did. First tune I ever played on a quena was Haste to the Wedding.
KFG
# Posted on November 19th 2005 by KFG
Re: Has anyone heard of playing the Andean kena/kenacho in place of a low whistle?
I just find the low D's a bit more consistent in tone production. My qena has laways behaved like an unpredictable flute: some days I can make it sound great others not so. Some days its really flute-like in tone, another day more reedy like an oboe almost. It's certainly an intruiging instrument, and I love it when some nosy eejit picks it up for a blow and can't figure out how a totally hollow tube makes the sound you've just been making! One fellah actually looked down round his feet in case he'd dropped something out when he picked it up.....
# Posted on November 19th 2005 by Jay-eye
Re: Has anyone heard of playing the Andean kena/kenacho in place of a low whistle?
Hi,
I think I am interested in this Kenacho instrument. Where could I find some information about this instrument, and how to get one?
# Posted on November 19th 2005 by Bile
Re: Has anyone heard of playing the Andean kena/kenacho in place of a low whistle?
I bought a semi-souvenir Quena (in G - a Kenacho, perhaps? 6 finger-holes + 1 thumb-hole) at the Kingston Green Fair near London about 12 years ago. There are some great photos of a friend of mine pulling his mouth into all manner of contortions trying to get a sound out of it. It still takes me all my patience just to produce a note, so I never get round to thinking about fingering. Even my leaky Irish flute is easy by comparison.
# Posted on November 19th 2005 by ragaman
Re: Has anyone heard of playing the Andean kena/kenacho in place of a low whistle?
A quena is just a whistle without a built in windway.
Just form the windway with your lips and blow on the blade. Easy.
KFG
# Posted on November 19th 2005 by KFG
Re: Has anyone heard of playing the Andean kena/kenacho in place of a low whistle?
The kenacho and kena both have rather large finger holes and a wider bore than a whistle, so they tend to have more volume and melower tone on the low end (especially the kenacho). I bought mine through an Andean musician based in Albuquerque who imports handmade instruments from Bolivia. The web site is www.andeannation.com. My kenacho is made from a dark hardwood similar to rosewood called jacaranda and cost me $50. It was not tuned to standard pitch when I got it (it was flat). I adjusted it by filing the notch and I also re-shaped the notch more to my preference (based on a professional peruvian kena that I have). It is now one of my favorite instruments. Another good source for good quality Andean wind instruments is www.rumillajta.com.
# Posted on November 20th 2005 by jasonlburnfield
Re: Has anyone heard of playing the Andean kena/kenacho in place of a low whistle?
Having played the kena and kenacho for several years now, I would say that getting a good tone consistently (especially on the upper register) is definitly not easy. I find the challenge of staying relaxed and getting a clear, non-shrill tone, with low volume on the upper register of the kena is a challenge. That is what I like about the instrument. I find the lower register on the kenacho fairly easy, though it takes some air-flow volume. It has the deep, haunting quality of a native american flute. The biggest challenge for me on the kenacho, is the size and spacing of the finger holes. I've been making the painstaking and grueling switch over to a piper's grip (at least on my right hand) which is a real chore for a guy who has played concert flute with fingertips for over 20 years. I'd really like to hook up with some experienced low whistle/kena/kenacho players to refine my fingering technique and posture.
# Posted on November 20th 2005 by jasonlburnfield