Music of South America

1
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.

2
Spanish Conquest

• The success of Cortes against the Aztecs prompted
  Pizaros 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.

3
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.

4
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.

5
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.

6
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.

7
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.

8
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

9
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.

10
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.