Chirimia: Guatemalan musical instrument

The chirimia is a Spanish term for a kind of oboe. The chirimia is a member of the shawm family of double reed musical instruments, introduced to the Central and South America in the 16^th century and the 17^th century by the Spanish clergy.

source of picture: musicabeata.blogspot.com 

Usage of the musical instrument differs widely across Latin American and Iberia, with the musical instrument being extinct in some areas, though a living tradition in others.

The musical instrument and drum are used to accompany religious activities and annual commemorative dance-dramas in several remote areas of Latin America, including Jacaltenango, Guatemala. The music manufactured is quite distinctive and differs from one region to another. This tradition is an adaptation of the pre-Columbian practice of accompanying religious activities and processions with drums, whistles and flutes.

There are two kinds of the chirimia in Guatemala, a small one and a large one. The size of the holes and their location is what determines the sound of the small version of the musical instrument. In some part of country, as Jacaltenango, smaller and larger versions of the musical instrument are performed together with small and large drums.

The normal chirimia has about 10 holes while the Guatemalan and Mexican chirimia has about 6 to 10 holes on them. Although the outward appearance of the instruments and the number and size of the holes differ regionally in the Mexican country and the Guatemala, these instruments are all double-reeded wooden instruments. Some of them have a conical bore, while others have cylindrical bore. The kind of reeds and manner in which they are kept in place also differ.

The Jakaltek chirimia known as ‘su’ in the Jakaltek language is very analogous to the chirimias of the central and southern Mexico. This version of the musical instrument is about 34.5 cm long, without the double-reed in place. The wooden part is about 27 cm long and has cylindrical bore on it, with 6 vertical holes and 2 lateral holes. The mouthpiece of the instrument is made up of a staple, a tapered metal cylindrical that wrapped with strings and topped with a wooden pirouette. The bulbous beneath part of the staple fits snugly into the wooden part of the musical instrument, but can easily be removed for cleaning.