Instrument collector charts Latin America’s musical history

Global Business

Instrument collector chars Latin America's musical history

For one man, collecting a variety of musical instruments from across Latin America has been a lifelong passion.

CCTV America’s Franc Contreras visited his Aladdin’s Cave in Mexico City for this edition of “Where’s the Money.”

It is easily one of the most formidable collections of music musical instruments in all of Latin America. It contains thousands of strings instruments like this eight string piece from the gulf coast state of Veracruz in Mexico.

“I have extraordinary drums, harps, and horns. The roads that brought this collection together are diverse. Some of the instruments were in antique shops, others came from auctions, and some were brought by my friends,” Guillermo Contreras, collector of musical instruments said.

“Today, I learned so much about different tones that can be made from things I had no idea I could play as instruments. For example, with the tortoise shells – the things you can do with them! I had no idea,” Karla Mendez Gonzalez, student of ethnomusicology said.

“I collect because within musical instruments, I find an element of magic. They are magical objects that give me reason to live, that make me happy,” Guillermo said.