Transcript Music of South America

Music of South America
• Early History of Americas. All peoples
originating from Asiatic peoples crossing the ice
between Alaska and Siberia at the end of the last
ice age. Within 5,000 years South and North
America populated.
• Pre-conquest in South America – civilisations such
as Inca and pre-Inca peoples using music for ritual
and entertainment purposes. Instruments suriving
are wind (both clay and wood) and percussion.
No string instruments.
Spanish Conquest
• The success of Cortes against the Aztecs prompted Pizaro’s expedition
against Peru in 1524 and 1531, through which he was able to take over
the Inca empire. Then Spain creates a new empire in the New World
and introduces European instruments and music to their new subjects.
South Americans unusually good and music. Mixing of races and
cultures. Import of String Instruments.
• South America divided up between Portugal and Spain by the Pope in
1530s. Portugese area now Brazil. Huge mining and plundering of
raw materials to fund these countries
• Colonial period lasted 300 years until early nineteenth century and age
of Bolivar and the independence movements across South America.
• During this period huge numbers of slaves were imported from Africa
to work the plantations that the Indians would or could not work.
Mixing of Musical Traditions
• All countries and areas of South America have a mix of
ethnic and cultural identities that are based on original
tribal groupings, colonial history and environment.
• All have urban elites that are European orientated and have
Western Art music forms – opera, symphony orchestras
etc.
• All folk musics that are an amalgum of European and
indigenous traits (typically seen in shopping centres in
Europe).
• All have remote populations that retain strong elements of
language, culture and religion that go back to pre-conquest
periods. But which nevertheless are still hybreds.
Example of Bolivia
• Communities in towns either Western/American in cultural
orientation or Mestizo (mixed) who model themselves on
Europeans. They speak Spanish and live in the lower
levels.
• By contrast the populations in the high Andes speak non
written languages (Quechua. Imara, etc) that relate to Inca
languages. They do not electricity, sanitation, roads etc.
And live in marginal agricultural communities that are
separated by altitudes.
• Such communities have existences that are governed by
music as a means to successful living.
Instruments
• In high Andes communities all play a part – but gender
division is absolute. Age is also important.
• Music making governed by yearly agricultural cycle and
the fiestas that govern it. These fiestas are also religious
events which have both a catholic and pagan significance –
the one superimposed on the other.
• Instruments are specific to the time of year– rainy season,
dry season - often made for the events, and to the region
and fiesta.
• All play the same tune which is communally developed –
rather than composed.
Fiestas
Main events for music making – can take days or even week.
Communities travel to visit each other on mass.
Main opportunity for courtship, drinking and fighting.
Music making is continuous and unstructured.
Important role of patrons and of the participation of spirit
world. To placate and please saints and non-Christian gods
(Pacha Mama) and to ensure fertility of land and to bring
rains. Observe and encourage yearly cycle.
Folk Music
• Folk music is found across South America and
involves mixing of instruments and local hybrid
traditions. Mixing panpipes, guitars, changos,
drums is typical and informs the Western
conception of Andean music.
• In other regions other influences at work – e.g.
Venezuela plains – Spanish and Portugese
renaissance traditions; Brazil – African percussion
and dance musics. Ideas of syncretism and
acculturation.
•
Stringed Instrument
• Spanish/Portugese brought traditions of guitars
and harps to South America. Some regions are a
treasure house for the preservation and
development of these traditions – Venezuala and
the `quatro’, the harp in Paraguay. Some effect for
recorder type wind instruments.
• Song forms often also betray influence of Spanish
– romance, villancico
Development of European Dance
Forms into Something New
• In urban areas dance forms based on café life
developed from European to indigenous forms.
Originals are Saraband, Jaroppa, Polca, maszurca
and cuadrilla.
• Best example is Tango which develops in
Argentina with its own dance, style and
instrumentation (Bandolion).
• Afro-Caribbean influences in Portugese areas
produce Samba (bossa nova), Salza (carribean)
and Carnival culture. Latin dance rhythms
exported from 1920s onwards with huge success.
Last Thoughts
• Other cultures also present in South America.
Argentina has all sorts of enclaves (even Welsh
speakers?). Gamelan in Surinam.
• Also Americanisation and infuence of MTV is
strong everywhere.
• Many countries remain chaotic and badly run.
Music survives as an outlet for disposed thought
the continent.