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Puutoorino

The Maori putorino is currently described as a bugle-flute because it has the quality of producing two distinct sounds through distinct playing manners. Although still uncertain how the instrument was originally played, it was reportedly played as flute, trumpet, and also as megaphone to modify the human voice. Built from a piece of split and hollowed out wood that was bound back together with flax thread, the instrument has an top embouchure hole through which the player can blow across its edge, in a flute-like manner, or into with vibrating lips, in a trumpet-like manner, thus creating different sounds. In addition to this, the instrument has a carved central hole and the lower end could be open or closed, which can also be used to modify the sound. The contemporary revival and study of the putorino also explores the option of using the central hole as an embouchure, just like a transverse flute. Being then an instrument of many voices, it could be used both as signaling and musical instrument. The shape of the putorino is associated with Hineraukatauri, the atua (spiritual ancestor) of the flute and music that, in Maori legend, embodies the casemoth who lives in a cocoon. While the male casemoth pupates and flies away, the female remains in her cocoon and calls for her mate, which symbolizes Hineraukatauri's love for her flute, as she chose to live inside it. Consequently, the shape of the putorino echoes that of the casemoth cocoon and the central hole represents the open mouth of Hineraukatauri. This particular example has the central hole carved in the typical figure-eight-shaped form.

  • Culture:Maori
  • Period:
  • Materials:
  • Specific materials/techniques:
  • Decorative elements:Maori design carved around the central hole.
  • Inscriptions:Label glued on back: 1876
  • Hornbostel-Sachs category:42 Wind instruments proper
  • Repository:Saffron Walden Museum
  • Measurements:Height: 345mm