The kultrun is so much more than just a musical instrument!
As mentioned above, the kultrun represents the Mapuche universe, which includes the environments where Mapuche people live. Traditionally, all of the materials used to construct musical instruments came from the local landscape, and instrument-makers like Alvarino continue this practice as much as possible. Because Mapuche people live in such a large territory with many different climates and environments, the materials used to make instruments vary by region. For example, a kultrun can be made from the wood of many kinds of trees, including the foye (Canelo), triwe (laurel), lenga, or lingue. The type of wood chosen depends on what is available in that region as well as the particular sound that the creator wants the drum to have when playing.
Today, materials that come from elsewhere are also used to create instruments. For example, cascahuillas are often made with metal, but originally they were made of seeds or animal parts. Like all traditions, the music traditions of the Mapuche people continue to adapt and change over time as Mapuche people find creative ways to continue their traditional practices in new settings.
