What kind of music did the Incas listen to?

The Incas used one word “taqui” to describe dance, music and singing, though this word in Quechua means “song”. They did not differentiate among the three, they were strictly interconnected. Their music was pentatonic, based in the combination of five notes: re, fa, sol, la and do.

How did the Incas communicate with each other?

The main forms of communication were the spoken language, Quechua, ceramics and Quipus. Quipus (talking knots) were recording devices which usually consisted of coloured and plied strings from alpaca or llama hairs. These cords contained numeric and other values represented by knots.

What kind of percussion instruments did the Andeans use?

There are many types of percussion instrument used in Andean music; among them are the bombo, caña de agua, wankar, chullus or chajchas, caja or tinya. Bombo is a large wooden drum made from a hollow trunk tree and covered in animal skin usually that of llama or sheep on the top and cow at the bottom.

Why did the Nazca people build the puquios?

Based on archaeological evidence, sometime during the Middle Nazca period, the Nazca people created an aqueduct system to sustain life in the exceedingly arid environment. The exact date of construction of the puquios has been debated for some time. Dating of the puquios is quite difficult because of the materials involved in their construction.

What was the purpose of the dances of the Incas?

Most dances were related to rituals and agriculture. There were specific dances to affect the weather such as to attract rain, repel frost and hail. Dances represented the life of domestic and wild animals as well a birds. Dance and songs were also used to report historic facts, myths and legends of the origin of the Incas.

What did the Incas do for a living?

The objective of agricultural, livestock and warrior dances was to maintain a good relationship with the divinities who they believed helped in bringing successful crops, healthy livestock and win battles. The Incas and early Andean civilizations had two types of musical instrument, wind and percussion.

What kind of Rattle did the Incas use?

Chajchas are also known as Chullus. It is a rattle made of dried goat hooves which are tied into a ribbon, they are also made with seashells, seeds, hard wood, stones or beads. The sound made when the chajcha is shaken resembles that of wind and rain.