El Hierro flute
A rustic six-hole flute associated with religious and patronal festivities on El Hierro.
- Family
- Aerophone
- Area
- El Hierro
History
The El Hierro flute has been passed down as a handmade instrument connected to the island’s festive life. Older examples were made from laurel wood; copper and aluminium tubes appeared later, followed more recently by plastic.
Characteristics
It is a rustic transverse flute: the tube has six aligned finger holes and a larger blowing hole near one end. Its handmade construction and the placement of the holes give it a highly recognisable tuning and timbre.
Where it is used
Its sound guides dancers during religious and patronal festivities on El Hierro. It has a prominent place in the Bajada de la Virgen de los Reyes, where it interacts with drums and chácaras along the route.
