VARIOUS ARTISTS
Traditional Music of Peru 6: The Ayacucho Region
Smithsonian Folkways
VARIOUS ARTISTS
Traditional Music of Peru 7: The Lima Highlands
Smithsonian Folkways
· Ayacucho was the site of the conflict between the Shining Path Guerilla Movement and the Peruvian Armed Forces during the 1980s and early 1990s.
The culture of indigenous Peruvian peoples continues to exist and flourish despite the colonizing assault of the McWorld juggernaut largely because of their longstanding dependence upon communal economic survival strategies. That, briefly, is the argument put forth by the Center for Andean Ethnomusicology at the Catholic University of Peru. Rituals and music associated with community life; religious observances and political organization provide an internal structure and defence of the traditional way of life.
The sixth and seventh volumes in Smithsonian Folkways' Traditional Music of Peru series highlight ritual celebrations in the various communities of the Andean highlands outside Lima and a little further to the southeast of the capitol in the region of Ayacucho. In both areas the influence of European settlement and the Catholic Church are noticeable. Instruments like the guitar and violin were introduced by Spanish colonizers and adopted by the indigenous peoples. While the traditional feasts and seasonal life-cycle events were largely co-opted by the church, remnants of traditional mythologies and practices remain encapsulated within the local songs and rituals. Traditional instruments such as the flute, cow horn and tinya (a small drum made of eucalyptus bark and goat skin) maintain a presence, although they are rapidly being replaced by modern stringed and brass instruments.
This is real music by real people and it is unlikely to appeal to anyone looking for the next big musical trend. It is, however, wonderful stuff. Despite space limitations the liner notes are, as expected, credible and will point anyone interested in the subject to several additional sources of information.
AYACUCHCO 4/5
LIMA HIGHLANDS 4/5
BRUCE POLLOCK
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