Conchera

A conchera or concha is Mexican stringed-instrument, plucked by concheros dancers. The instruments were important to help preserve elements of native culture from Eurocentric-Catholic suppression. The instruments are used by concheros dancers for singing at velaciones (nighttime rituals) and for dancing at obligaciones (dance obligations).

A conchera or concha is Mexican stringed-instrument, plucked by concheros dancers. The instruments were important to help preserve elements of native culture from Eurocentric-Catholic suppression. The instruments are used by concheros dancers for singing at velaciones (nighttime rituals) and for dancing at obligaciones (dance obligations). ==Types== The bodies of the lutes were traditionally made from a concha (armadillo shell). Today the bowls may be made of wood and the mandolin have a flat back. mandolinos de concheros or mandolina conchera: with 4 double courses (8 strings), tuned as mandolin (g-d-a-e). vihuelas de concheros or vihuela conchera: with 5 double courses (10 strings). Tuned as vihuela, but in the 3rd, 4th and 5th courses, each string in a course tuned to an octave of the other string. guitarras de concheros or guitarra conchera: with 6 double courses (12 strings). Tuned as guitar, but in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th courses, each string in a course tuned to an octave of the other string. Some of the dancers who use the conchas call them "Mecahuehuetl" (from Nahuatl Meca(tl) = chord + Huehue(tl)= old one "drum", which was also the name for the vihuela and is used for the guitar today. This name reflects the fact that the early Conchero dancers were able to encrypt the precolumbian rhythms and steps of their agrarian rituals into the musical chords of the guitars and mandolins. A traditional conchero can tell which step should be carried out by how the melody is being strummed on the conchas. Another name used for the armadillo-shelled instruments is "Chihuanda." The etymology of this term is uncertain, with Purépecha seen as the most commonly agreed to root. Video Youtube — Various styles of conchas, being played by dancing musicians. Video Youtube - Mandolinas de concha Video Youtube - Indigenous Dancer from Tierra Blanca Ejido, Xilitla, San Luis Potosi playing his armadillo mandolin and doing the Dance of the Cross. Photo of a mandolina de concha Photo of a conchero

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