Double flutes are distinctive of Western Mexico and specifically Colima; they feature two tubes together with four holes each for fingering. The air enters via an opening through two independent air ducts; however, at the time of playing, the lips cover both air ducts which allows the two flutes to be played simultaneously. The plates or dikes placed on both sides of the lip plate allow better air direction toward the mouthpiece.
These flutes are usually decorated with the effigy of lizard or a snake. From some representations in sculptures and figurines, it follows that double flutes were played with one hand, that is, a single finger covered two holes simultaneously. The minimum difference between the distance of the fingering holes was to generate the phenomenon of beats or pulsations characteristic of double wind instruments. The beats are perceived as out of tune sounds; however, in some Mesoamerican instruments, it is a defining feature of the sound texture.
Gonzalo Sánchez
After producing this delicate instrument, carefully measuring the length of the pipes, the arrangement of the holes and the accuracy of the mouthpiece, the craftsman applied two pairs of beaks on the sides whose function or meaning we ignore. In the middle of the pipe, using very ductile clay pellets to avoid deforming the ducts of the flute, the craftsman would apply them by pressing gently and shaping an approximation of an animal.
Rather than just a pleasing decoration, it is likely that the animal was chosen due to a certain relationship between its song or behavior and the sweet polyphonic sound of the instrument or act in which it was to be used. Thus, if it were a tadpole as it appears to be, it could be symbolically related to a rite to invoke rain, whose arrival is accompanied by the deafening song of the amphibians. In different parts of Mexico, such as the West, Veracruz and Teotihuacan, not only have double flutes been reported, but triple and quadruple flutes also, which attest to the complexity reached by ancient Mesoamerican music.
Marie-Areti Hers
Double flutes are distinctive of Western Mexico and specifically Colima; they feature two tubes together with four holes each for fingering. The air enters via an opening through two independent air ducts; however, at the time of playing, the lips cover both air ducts which allows the two flutes to be played simultaneously. The plates or dikes placed on both sides of the lip plate allow better air direction toward the mouthpiece.
