Peru

by Elisabeth den Otter 

 

Between 1980-1985 I did research in Peru, as scientific assistant, pertaining to the role of music and dance in an Andean valley of Peru, for WOTRO (The Netherlands Foundation for the Advancement of Tropical Research), The Hague. This resulted in a book: 'Music and Dance of Indians and Mestizos in an Andean Valley of Peru' and a CD: 'Huaynos y Danzas . Religious and secular music of the Callejón de Huaylas, Peru'.

Summary of the book (pdf)

Article: 'Music of the Callejon de Huaylas, Peru' (including mp3 music samples)

 

PAN record PAN 2072CD
Recordings, photography, and liner notes by Elisabeth den Otter
This CD costs US$ 15 + US$ 5 shipping, and may be ordered directly from PAN records.

The Callejón de Huaylas is a 150 kilometres long valley in the Department of Ancash, in the north central Highlands of Peru, 400 kilometres north of Lima. The population consists of Quechua speaking indians, mostly peasants who live in the mountain villages, and Spanish speaking mestizos (people of mixed indian and Spanish origin) who live in the small towns along the Santa river that flows through the valley.

Secular forms of music and dance are the huayno, the marinera and the waltz. The huayno is typical of highland Peru, and the most popular type of music, song and dance in the Callejón. Religious music is played mostly during processions, on the occasion of patron saint festivals, Holy Week, etc. Traditional indian dance groups represent important episodes from the past: Inca princesses, fighters against the Spanish conquerors, or black slaves.

A variety of musical instruments is used: traditional instruments like jingle rattles, drums, and flutes; stringed instruments brought by the Spaniards like the guitar, the violin and the harp; and European brass band instruments that were introduced around the turn of the century and have become very popular.

 

 

Article: 'De dubbele maiskolf. Oogsfeest in de Andes' (including mp3 music sample) on the patron saint festival of Huaylas; published in the Dutch magazine 'Culturen' (July 1988).

 

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