Tezcat Clay Whistle (Mockingbird) by Nash Tavewa

Introducing the splendid Tezcat (Mockingbird) clay whistle, a unique handcrafted piece with dimensions approximately 2 1/2 inches x 1 1/2 inches. This whistle, resonating with the sound of ancient Aztec birds, is held with both thumbs covering the ends of the 'sounding tubes' and index fingers covering the finger holes. By adjusting your thumbs and fingers, you can mimic almost any bird sound. Its volume is quite loud in the full-open position and is highly responsive to breath modulations.


Nash Tavewa, a member of the Bene Walash (Zapotec) Culture from the Sierra North of Oaxaca, Mexico, is a master of this craft. His lineage, tracing back centuries, is rich with traditional Zapotec pottery masters, including flute and whistle makers, and creators of ceremonial figurines. There's little doubt that their legacy stretches back to pre-Columbian times.


As a child, Nash began his journey into the world of flutes and whistles, playing with small cane flutes, clay whistles, and drums made by his parents. Surrounded by family artists, he learned to make his own instruments. His grounding in Zapotec traditional knowledge is reflected in his work, reinterpreting the traditional musical language and dance.


In 1998, he met and apprenticed under Maestro Guillermo Martinez, a renowned Native American Flute and Drum maker. Over the course of four years, Nash honed his skills in crafting these instruments. Today, he is a world-renowned instrument maker, his artistry maintaining his ancestors' spiritual beliefs in nature as a sacred and divine living being.


Nash greatly appreciates his heritage, which is rich with traditions, ceremonies, dances, and music. He is dedicated to preserving and sharing this ancient knowledge through his craft. Each piece comes with how-to-play instructions, allowing you to experience the magic of this traditional instrument fully.