Matófono
The matófono or galleta is a traditional mirliton-type musical instrument from Argentina and Uruguay. It consists of a gourd used for mate, split into two halves and held together with thread[1] or a piece of leather attached as a mouthpiece.
Origin
Its origin presumably dates back to indigenous cultures of the Río de la Plata region, and it was historically known as "galleta" by the gauchos of the area.
Popularization by Les Luthiers
The galleta was recreated in the 1960s by the Buenos Aires luthier Carlos Iraldi for the comedic informal instrument ensemble Les Luthiers and renamed yerbomatófono d’amore or simply yerbomatófono.[2][3] This instrument was made from mate gourds cut in half, sanded, and reassembled, with an opening for the player's lips. The sound is amplified and distorted in a unique way, with a timbre that varies based on the pressure applied.
The matófono adds a sound to the voice reminiscent of a muted trumpet or the sympathetic resonance of a drum's bass string. Unlike the kazoo, which has a similar timbre, the matófono requires one hand to hold it, whereas the kazoo can be played while using both hands for another instrument.
References
- ^ "Centro de Fotografía de Montevideo". cdf.montevideo.gub.uy. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
- ^ "Los Luthiers de la Web, 2001. Instrumentos informales" [Les Luthiers Web, 2001. Informal instruments]. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
- ^ "Los Luthiers de la Web, 2001. Álbum de fotos. Yerbomatófono d'amore" [Les Luthiers Web, 2001. Photo album. Yerbomatófono d'amore]. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
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