Blog
Mayan Culture
Written by oliviawallwork
As I went on holiday to Mexico in the summer, I thought I’d write a post for the Mexican Voice. However, my interaction with Mexican music was very limited – all I ever heard playing was normal American charts in shops, so I thought I’d go back in time a bit and take a look at Mayan music, as whilst I was in Mexico I visited Tulun, an ancient Mayan city. (Just so you know, the Mayan calendar is the calendar which predicts the end of the world on December 21st this year)
Music is believed to have been an integral part of Mayan culture, for example it was played at funerals and after victories at war. In addition, it was not an exclusive luxury, preserved only for the upper classes, but a cross society enjoyment, with some drums being found in lower class homes.
Tulun
Percussion instruments were drums or maracas, made of wood or tortoiseshell. Ceremonial flutes were used at funerals and made out of ceramic. Whilst most flutes and ocarinas of the time were made of bone, wood or reed material, contrasting the extravagant material of Mayan flutes, showing the importance of music in their cuture.
The music has quite a mystical, eerie quality, which would create a reverent and sombre atmosphere – which is probably why music was viewed with prestige in Mayan society.