Encyclopedia of the Incas

the five-note (pentatonic) scale prevailed in Inca times has been debunked by
recent scholars for lack of evidence; many of the ancient musical instruments, in
fact, produce microtonal scales. In addition, while melodies composed of three
pitches (tritonic scale) are often associated with ancient Andean rituals such as
animal fertility and marcación (the marking of herd animals), we can also only
infer that this scale has its roots in pre-Hispanic times.
What is more evident is the type of instruments employed in celebration. Inca
instruments were variations of flutes and drums. String instruments were
introduced by the Spaniards, or are later adaptations of Spanish prototypes.
Cieza de León describes golden drums, some with semiprecious stones, which
were played by women and used to accompany the singing of mamaconas
(chosen women; See Acllacuna) during the 20-day feast of Hatun Raymi in
celebration of the August harvest of maize, potatoes, coca, and quinoa.
Cobo wrote about huancar, small and large drums made of hollow logs with
llama skin membranes at both ends and played with a stick by men and women.
A small tambourine, huancar tinya, was played by women to accompany their
singing.a
The Native chronicler Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala depicts various
instruments played during Inca times, which allows researchers today to track
continuity: pingollana flute players playing “Inca songs”; chasqui runners
blowing the pututu conch shell to announce events; deer skulls and antlers
played during a Chinchaysuyu festival; antara (single-row pipes) and seed
shakers attached to the ankles of a chunchu dancer from Antisuyu; and a woman
playing a tinya and a huancar.
Inca flutes included bamboo cane or condor bone pinkuyllu and quenaquena,
both vertical notched flutes, as well as a variety of single-row and double-row
cane, ceramic, and human bone panpipes, which were played both in large
ensembles and to accompany singing and dancing. Double-row pipes were most
likely played in interlocking style (each row of pipes has half of the melody
notes), as they are today. An antara (single-row pipes) made of an enemy’s
bones, as well as a drum made of his skin, were important instruments of the
Inca king (see Warfare).
From approximately 1564 to 1571 the southern highlands of Peru experienced
the Taqui Oncoy movement (disease of the song/dance). Distressed and starving
spirits of the huacas rose to life again by possessing the Native Indians, causing
them to enter into a trance that included song and dance, believing they would