



Both the Mayans and Aztecs had produced versions of the ocarina, but it was the Aztecs who brought to Europe the song and dance that accompanied the ocarina. Different expeditions to Mesoamerica, including the one conducted by Cortés, resulted in the introduction of the ocarina to the courts of Europe. The ocarina has similar features to the Xun (塤), another important Chinese instrument (but is different in that Ocarina uses an internal duct, whereas Xun is blown across the outer edge.) In Japan, the traditional ocarina is known as the tsuchibue (kanji: 土笛 literally "earthen flute"). For the Chinese, the instrument played an important role in their long history of song and dance. Ocarina-type instruments have been of particular importance in Chinese and Mesoamerican cultures. The ocarina belongs to a very old family of instruments, believed to date back to over 12,000 years. Giuseppe Donati, Italian inventor of the modern ocarina, with his work.
