# Quena

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Quena.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quena
> Source revision: 1350031406
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{{Short description|Traditional musical instrument}}
{{Other uses|Quena (disambiguation)}}
{{dist|Qena}}
{{Refimprove|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox Instrument
| name           = Quena
| names          = {{hlist|Quena|Qina}}
| background     = woodwind
| image          = Quena01.jpg
| caption        = The '''quena''' is a South American wind instrument, mostly used by Andean musicians
| hornbostel_sachs = 421.111.12
| hornbostel_sachs_desc = end-blown flute with notched rim
| classification = [Edge-blown aerophone](/source/Edge-blown_aerophone)
| range          = 200px|center
The typical range of the quena is G{{sub|4}} to A{{sub|6}}, depending on the instrument and performer.
| related        = {{hlist
  | [Siku](/source/Siku_(instrument))
  | Quenacho
  | [Flute](/source/Flute)
  | [Recorder](/source/Recorder_(musical_instrument))
}}
| module = {{Infobox designation list
 | embed = yes
 | designation1 = PCN
 | designation1_offname = Quena
 | designation1_type    = Intangible
 | designation1_date    = {{Start date and age|2008|08|22|df=yes}}<ref>{{cite act |title=Resolución Directoral Nº 1103/INC-2008 |url=http://administrativos.cultura.gob.pe/intranet/dpcn/anexos/50_1.pdf |publisher=[National Institute of Culture](/source/National_Institute_of_Culture) |date=2008-08-22 |access-date=2025-09-25 |italics=y |language=es}}</ref>
 | designation1_criteria = Music and dances
 | designation1_number   =
 | designation1_free1name = Legal basis
 | designation1_free1value = R.D.N. 1103/INC-2008
}}
}}

The '''quena''' (hispanicized spelling of [Quechua](/source/Quechua_language) '''''qina''''',<ref>{{Ref Laime}}</ref> sometimes also written '''''kena''''' in English) is the traditional [flute](/source/flute) of the [Andes](/source/Andes). Traditionally made of [cane](/source/cane_(grass)) or wood, it has 6 finger holes and one thumb hole, and is open on both ends or the bottom is half-closed (choked). To produce [sound](/source/sound), the player closes the top end of the pipe with the flesh between the chin and lower lip, and blows a stream of air downward, along the axis of the pipe, over an elliptical notch cut into the end. It is normally in the key of G, with G4 being the lowest note. It produces a very "textured" and "dark" [timbre](/source/timbre) because of the length-to-bore ratio of about 16 to 20 (subsequently causing difficulty in the upper register), which is very unlike the tone of the [Western concert flute](/source/Western_concert_flute) with a length-to-bore ratio of about 38 to 20.
thumb|Quenacho made in Argentina
The '''quenacho''' (also "kenacho" in English) is a larger, lower-toned version of the quena and made the same way. It is in the key of D, with D4 being the lowest note, a perfect fourth lower than the quena. It produces a very rich timbre because of the length-to-bore ratio of about 25, paradoxically brighter by comparison to the quena.

The quena is mostly used in traditional [Andean music](/source/Andean_music). In the 1960s and 1970s the quena was used by several ''[nueva canción](/source/nueva_canci%C3%B3n)'' musicians. This use was in most cases for particular songs and not as a standard instrument, but some groups such as [Illapu](/source/Illapu) and virtuoso player [Facio Santillan](/source/Facio_Santillan) have used it regularly. In the 1980s and 1990s some post-''nueva canción'' rock groups have also incorporated the quena in some of their songs; notably [Soda Stereo](/source/Soda_Stereo) in ''Cuando Pase el Temblor'' and [Los Enanitos Verdes](/source/Los_Enanitos_Verdes) in ''Lamento Boliviano''. The quena is also relatively common in [world music](/source/world_music).

==Other Andean instruments similar to the quena==
Other Andean flutes include the following:
*The ''[pinkillu](/source/pinkillu)'' has the same fingering as the quena, and is similar in appearance and operation to a [recorder](/source/recorder_(musical_instrument)). Unlike the actual quena, it has an air channel or fipple to conduct the air;
*The ''[tarka](/source/tarka_(flute))'' (or tharqa), which also operates like a recorder but is comparatively shorter and quite angular in shape, requires greater breath, and has a darker, more penetrating sound;
*The ''[moseño](/source/mose%C3%B1o)'' (originally ''mohoseño''), is a long, dual-tube [bamboo flute](/source/bamboo_flute) with a deep sound. The auxiliary tube acts as an aeroduct.<ref>{{cite web |title= MOXEÑO o MOSEÑO |url=https://www.kaypacha.com.ar/en/instruments/moxeno.htm |quote=system of insufflation...placing a cane of conduit towards the mouth...to blow through the artificial "mouth"...due to the great distance from the normal mouth to the holes.}}</ref>

==See also==
*[Native American flute](/source/Native_American_flute)
*[Shakuhachi](/source/Shakuhachi), a similar Japanese end-blown flute
*[Xiao (flute)](/source/Xiao_(flute)), a similar Chinese end-blown flute

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
*[http://soundbytes.de/EarlyPatches/demos/mpdrei/quena.mp3 Quena music]
*[https://www.unmundodebambu.com.ar/consejosi.htm How to select a quena]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110713232606/http://www.los-koyas.com/quena.mp3 The sound of the quena Los Koyas]
*[http://www.iainkelso.com/downloads/brokenkingdom/elegy.mp3 Quenacho Music] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712234333/http://www.iainkelso.com/downloads/brokenkingdom/elegy.mp3 |date=2011-07-12 }}, Iain Kelso

{{Flutes}}

{{Authority control}}
Category:End-blown flutes
Category:Andean music
Category:Aymara
Category:Bamboo flutes

[sr:Кена](/source/sr%3A%D0%9A%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B0)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Quena](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quena) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quena?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.