Yelatáj chos woley explained

The yelatáj chos woley, yelataj chas woley or simply jelataj choz, is a musical bow which is characteristic of the Wichi culture in the South American Gran Chaco.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Features

The Yelatáj chos woley consists of two bows of tusca wood.^{[1] [2] [3]} The performer holds the end of one of the bows between his teeth and rubs that bowstring with the other.^{[1] [3]} The musician's mouth acts as a resonator.^[1] Originally the bowstrings were made from peccary hair, vegetable fibers or other hair.^[3] When horses arrived with the Spaniards to America, instrument makers began to use the hairs from horse manes and tails.^{[1] [2] [3]}

The dimensions of one listed at Musical Instrument Museums Online (MIMO) is 350 mmm long x 60 mm wide (bowstring to bow handle).^[1]

Usage

The yelatáj chos woley is for ceremonial and shamanic use.^[3] He is attributed the power to invoke Nilataj, God of the Wichi ethnic group.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Web site: arc musical (yelat'aj chos woley) . Musical Instrument Museums Online .
2. Web site: Arcos musicales . https://web.archive.org/web/20071111094601/http://www.inmuvega.gov.ar/museovirtual/presentacion/areasculturales/chaquense/arcosmusicales/arcos.htm . Museo Virtual de Instrumentos Musicales, Instituto Nacional de Musicología . 11 November 2007.
3. Web site: Ruben Guaman . Carrasco . LATAJCHOZ . https://web.archive.org/web/20080221132544/http://www.geocities.com/ethnicinstruments/latajchoz.html . 21 February 2008 . [Photo of musician playing Yelatáj chos woley, holding one bow in his teeth and drawing the other bow across its string.].