A pretty darn thorough look at the music of Peru

This week on Al compás del mundo we’re taking a pretty darn thorough look at the music of Peru (foregoing contemporary pop music that for a large part sounds like that of any other country in the world.) If you thought Peru was limited to Machu Picchu, llamas, and Incan history, you’d be wrong. They’re out of the Andean region and offer an important but incomplete overview of cultural traditions and the music handed down. Andean music comes from the indigenous peoples, mostly rural, who have populated the mountainous areas since before history took note. Instrumentation is characterized by flutes, simple drum patterns, and the charango, or armadillo “guitar.” >>>

Al compás del mundo - programa #155, Runlisto

First broadcast 11-21-24,

Peru - Andean, Creole, Afro, Amazonian

01 Condemayta de Acomayo - Cuerpo soltero

02 Puka - Adiós pueblo de Ayacucho

03 Los Uros del Titicaca - Ojos azules

04 El Comunero De Los Andes - Huaylas Comunero

05 Inkhay - Rosaura

06 Florencio Coronado - Alma, corazón y vida

07 Los Errantes de Chuquibamba - Llanto por llanto

08 Los Romanceros Criollos - Chinita linda

09 Los Morochucos - Qué importa

10 Lucha Reyes - José Antonio

11 Arturo 'Zambo' Cavero - Son de los diablos

12 Lucila Campos - Saca tu machete

13 De Familia - Mamá Juanita

14 Los Diablos Rojos - El Guapo

15 Juaneco y Su Combo - Linda nena

16 Los Hijos del Sol – Cariñito

17 Los Mirlos - Muchachita del Oriente

Afro-Peru

>>> Creole refers to the European immigrants’ influence, introducing waltzes, polkas, mazurkas and other styles to a mostly urban audience considered “more refined” by many of the middle and upper classes. Admittedly, all these genres borrowed from each other, though probably the greatest contrast to Creole music is that of the Afro-Peruvians.

Relying on African traditions brought to the New World, Afro music from the coastal areas is more percussive and reliant on multiple voices in backup choral (communal) settings. The final categorization and the most recent to emerge (1960s) speaks of Northeastern Peru, the Amazonian region. The lively combo music from those parts was originally known as “chicha,” named after a local fermented beverage. Subsequently it has been dubbed “psychedelic cumbia.” Not sure if that comes from jungle ayahuasca sessions, but the debt to surf guitar and Colombian cumbia is obvious (long live the farfisa organ!)

The playlist runs in order according to the genres I’ve listed. Even without a narrator defining them, I think the styles of music speak for themselves and the shifts from one to the next apparent. My overly brief and simplistic descriptions give a basic notion of what you’ll hear, but if you pay attention, in an hour’s time you will learn enough about the great variety of Peru’s musical traditions so that, hopefully, you’ll want to explore further and my job will have been well done. JH

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