Aesthetics of sound and listening in the Andes: The case of the Mantaro valley

Peoples and cultures ascribe to the same acoustic sounds different social-related qualities, sentimental references and aesthetic values. In the central Peruvian Andes, for example, people perceive and value the sounds of the saxophone and clarinet in a different way from those living in other parts of the Andes. This article briefly describes how both instruments became popularized in the region during the present century and displaced older pre-Hispanic and colonial instruments. It also attempts to explain the social conditions which make possible the acceptance of "new" over "older" and local sounds.