Somewhere in Africa, before
the birth of Christ, rainsticks were played to remind the
spirits that the rain was welcome. These rainsticks
serenade
the gods of the Diaguitas, a native
Chilean people. From the windswept hillsides and barrancas
beneath the Andes, artisans with burros collect dead and
dried cactus which might otherwise be used for firewood.
(Absolutely no live cactus was cut) The thorns are then
pressed into hollow shafts. Pebbles cascading over the
thorns create the sound of this ancient instrument which is
still heard in the music of the Andes.
Village Artisans sometimes
embellish their creations. They paint with colors and
whimsy, borrowing from their own or neighboring cultures.
Occasionally the artists invent new patterns and pictures.
Whether South American or Southwestern, the painted
rainstick is an intriguing and musical decorating accessory.
Painted rainstick designs are available only in thin sizes;
and in six lengths approximating 10 inches to 60 inches.
