Puerto Rico
Puerto Ricans

Woods, metal, polymer
Commissioned in 2016 by HWMC – maker Pico Periz Cruz, Artesano de Puerto Rico   
Length: 41 in; Width: 11 in; Depth: 4.25 in
Chordophone – Lute – Plucked

The bordonúa is a large, deep body bass guitar which is native to Puerto Rico.  This bordonúa was commissioned to be made by Pico Periz Artesano de Puerto Rico for the HWMC collection in 2016.  The bordonúa is the least common of the three stringed instruments that make up the Puerto Rican orquesta jibara (i.e., the cuatro, the tiple and the bordonúa). The original bordonúa is said to have evolved from the old 16th century Spanish acoustic bass guitar called the Bajo de la Una. There were also special melodic bordonúas that were used during the 1920s and 1930s as accompaniment to melody instead of the bass role. These were oddly tuned like a tiple (also found in this collection). The Puerto Rico bordonua has since evolved into its own configuration, as seen here. Historically, they are also related to the Spanish Renaissance vihuela, brought to the Island by conquering Spanish.

This handmade Artisan bordonúa has 10 metal strings (5 double courses) with 16 metal frets on a glossed wooden neck and lighter stained wooden body. The body is pear shaped with a darker wood on the sides and back of the body. The tuning pegs are mechanical with gold and silver metal cogs, and the handles are made of an opaque polymer. The instrument comes with a signed label on the inside in a black hard leather case.  Tuning: A-a D-d F#-f# b-b e-e

This bordonua comes from Puerto Rico and was made in the “Barrio” Neighborhood Quebradas de Camuy by Piero Perez Cruz.  His workshop is just a few kilometers away from the Camuy River Cave Park.