Description: The pingullo, pincullo, [this flute has many names which are distinguished by regional varieties of the flute]. The pingullo is a duct or fipple type flute found through out the Cuzco, to Ayacucho regions of Peru. In Bolivia its found in the Alti-Plano regions. Also this flute is found in North-western Argentina and Northern Chile. The pingullo has 6 to 7 finger-holes in which are arranged by tunings both Indigenous and standardized to this type of flute.

The pingullo is often made from cane, bone or wood. In Ecuador some of the pingullo have three finger holes in which makes the Ecuadorian pingullo suited for pipe and tabor (drum) practice. When listening to the pingullo the range and timbre is similar to the Kena, and often included in many ensembles. In the region of patucumbo in Peru the pingullo is played along with accordions, mandolin, brass instruments, clarinet, sometimes saxophone, harp, mandolin, violin. Other areas like Cuzco include the pingullo with guitar, mandolin, charango, or with violin, mandolin and harp depending on regional taste.

The scales of these flutes are often diatonic in nature though many melodies both chromatic or various pentatonic can be played depending on fingering technique. In some areas of Peru this is more so in the rural areas. A playing technique in which the musician blows the breath into the flute quite quickly when alternating between the notes to create a false harmony with in a fifth, this technique along with grace notes are widely featured through out traditional melodies. Also the same approach in these areas is found in Kena playing as well.

 

Citations: Rene Hugo Sanchez (MySpace page) - Bibliography ~ New Grove Dictionary of Music - Book P to Z. John M. Schechter.