Maya artist, Southern Highlands, Guatemala. Jaguar-Costumed Blowgun Hunter Whistle, about 600–1000. Slip-painted ceramic, 6½ in. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Edward M. Strauss, 1984.521.
Music is ephemeral and there are no passed down notations, so the songs played by ancient musicians do not survive.
However, by studying their instruments and other artworks we can better understand the sounds past musicians and audiences may have enjoyed.
During his time at the Denver Art Museum, Jared Katz, 2018–19 Mayer Center Fellow for Art of the Ancient Americas, developed a technique to scan and 3-D print replicas of these instruments that allowed guests to interact with them.
Use this touchscreen to listen to Jared Katz playing the replicas and hear how ancient instruments may have sounded.
All videos created by and courtesy of the Denver Art Museum.
Greater Nicoya artist, Costa Rica. Ocarina in the Form of a Frog, 300 BCE–500 CE. Ceramic, 1¾ × 2 × 2¾ in. Gift of Frederick and Jan Mayer, 1993.497.
Jared Katz playing Ocarina in the Form of a Frog (1993.497)
Unknown artist, Atlantic Watershed, central region of Costa Rica. Ocarina in the Form of a Ritual Specialist, 1–1000. Slip-painted ceramic, 4 × 1⅞ × 1⅝ in. Gift of Frederick and Jan Mayer, 1995.482.
Jared Katz playing Ocarina in the Form of a Ritual Specialist (1995.482)
Unknown artist, Tairona region, Caribbean coast of Colombia. Ocarina with Three Protruding Animal Heads, 1000-1500. Ceramic, 2⅝ × 2½ × 1½ in. Gift of Robert J. Stroessner, 1984.649.
Greater Nicoya artist, Costa Rica. Ocarina in the Form of a Turtle, 300 BCE–500 CE. Ceramic, 1¾ × 2⅜ × 4 in. Gift of Frederick and Jan Mayer, 1993.488.
Maya artist, Alta Verapaz region, Southern Highlands, Guatemala. Ocarina in the Form of a Female Figure with Monkey and Child, 550–950. Ceramic with pigment applied after firing, 13½ × 11 × 5½ in. Gift of Exeter Drilling Company and Mr. and Mrs. Morris A. Long, 1979.3.