Libertango - A Double Charango Version

In the never ending quest to find Libertango played on a different instrument, we bring you a version played on a double charango.

The charango (sometimes written charankel) is a ten string instrument arranged in five double courses which originated in Bolivia but has spread through much of South America. The original charangos used the shell of a quirquincho (armadillo) but that creature is now endangered and such instruments are deemed illegal. Current instruments are all wood with a carved, bowl shaped back to mimic the shape of the original. The normal charango has a single neck, but just like guitars there are custom instruments which have double necks like the one in the video. If you need a charango to complete your stringed instrument collection, I note they are available a number of places on the web including a nice selection here.

The instrumentalist is unidentified but he is clearly fluent with the instrument. While he spends most of his time on the treble side neck, pulling an occasional chord root from the left, he does play across both necks and the bass side neck is used for more than open chords. He gets a lot of music out of the instrument with his own jazz interpretation of Libertango. The ending is really hot.

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