How to Make an Antara Flute
Almost every culture in South America uses some kind of pan flutes--generically known as zampoñas--in its music. Zampoñas go by many names to designate their size: From small to large they are called the chuli, the siku, the sanka and the toyos. Pan pipes native to Ecuador are called the rondador, and pipes from the Andes are known as antaras. This article will teach you how to make an antara pan flute out of bamboo.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Select your bamboo. You will need at least 10 feet of bamboo, with no single piece shorter than 6 inches. The bamboo should be about 3/4 inch in diameter and should be mature bamboo, not young, green bamboo.
-
2
Cut the bamboo into individual flutes. Wrap a piece of masking tape around the bamboo before you cut; this will prevent it from splintering as you cut it. Begin with a piece that is 6 inches long and cut every following piece 1/2 inch longer that the previous one. You can have as many pieces as you want. Some antara flutes have six to eight individual flutes in them, while others have 20 or more.
-
-
3
Use the dowel to push any nodes or other debris out of the bamboo flutes after they are cut. The nodes are the thick ridges on the bamboo where sections of bamboo appear to connect. Sand the bamboo flutes at both ends until very smooth.
-
4
Glue the flutes together so that they are flat across one end. Dab a little glue onto each flute about 2 inches from the top and along the middle, and press it gently against its next-longest neighbor. Cut a piece of fabric or ribbon about 1 inch wide and glue it around the flutes at the top glue point to help keep all of the flutes together. Let dry. If your antara flute has more than eight individual flutes, you may want to add a second piece of fabric about halfway down to extra stability.
-
5
Varnish the antara flute to give it extra stability and to make it shine. Attach the string to the ribbon with glue to create a neck strap.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Use mature bamboo. Always wear gloves and safety glasses when working with the saw.
