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a wwssggnnrrllyymmdd ff woo,, tt hs eennssii hht hh nniieeoossppooll ii oo aae hh bbllty oo crreeii pprrpriaaeeyytt rraaeetteennccssaayyssapp..FFrrttii eason,,ttee oiiiiaa hhrrnnoo ere adee uing nnaammdillo hhw orr teebbwwedd bck nd oodd orrtteerrss fftteeiissrrmeett ooeennchaaaaggssaaee mdd ooppeeely rrmmwwoo..TTeeee rr ome llccrrccccarrnggssnnwwbbiiggmmdd ss ell.<br> br> Other stories say that the Spanish forbade the Andeans from playing their music and that the creation of the charango was a way of having an instrument that could be hidden under a poncho to keep their music alive. Another story says that the indigenous peoples were forbidden to play the Spanish guitarra and they created the charango to achieve a similar sound. A 2005 documentary film called El Charango documents the instrument as originating with the miners in Potosi, Bolivia and how it symbolizes the oppression and struggle of the people.
Certainly, the charango has had and continues to have an important place in the Andean culture. It's frequently used as entertainment during long travels. It's used for courting and has an important place in the music at weddings, burials and the many local festivals. The melodies that are played vary according to the specific use for which they are intended.
There is an association in the countryside with mermaids or water spirits. It's believed that a new charango should be left overnight by the riverside so that the mermaid or sirena will tune it and play it. Having done so, the instrument will sound better and have a stronger ability to assist in courting.
While the charango was and still is used for playing traditional folkloric music in the countryside, it is used in other ways in the urban areas and may be used as a concert instrument as well. Compositions by various classical composers have been arranged for play by guitars and charangos, making an interesting return to its past considering that it developed from a European instrument. It frequently makes an appearance in Andean rock bands as well and also has found an occasional home with groups outside of South America such as The Gypsy Kings.
