The ayoyotes, ''ayoyotl'', aztec jingles or huesos de fraile, are an
idiophone
An idiophone is any musical instrument that creates sound primarily by the vibration of the instrument itself, without the use of air flow (as with aerophones), strings (chordophones), membranes (membranophones) or electricity ( electrophones) ...
percussion instrument of the Aztecs. It consists of a set of hard shells from the ayoyote or chachayote (''chachayotl'') tree of
Thevetia
''Thevetia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae, first described for modern science as a genus in 1758. It is native to Mexico, Central America, South America, and Cuba. The taxonomy of the genus is controversial, with some ...
genus,
fixed to skin or cloth pieces in order to be tied to the ankles or wrists of the dancer or musician. Its sound is similar to that of the rain. This idiophone is used in
concheros
The Concheros dance, also known as the dance of the Chichimecas, Aztecas and Mexicas, is an important traditional dance and ceremony which has been performed in Mexico since early in the colonial period. It presents syncretic features both pre-His ...
dance.
References
{{authority control
* Stevenson, Robert (1968): ''Music in Aztec and Inca Territory ''.
Idiophones
Mexican musical instruments