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  PERUVIAN MUSIC  

 
       
     BEST KNOWN DANCES IN PERU    

 

 

harawi

     Harawi or Yaravi

  
This is the oldest musical genre still existing in Peru. It expresses melancholy, sadness and pain. Origins It originated from a form of Inca poetry. Mestizo (mixed-blood) forms: Yaraví in the South, Triste in the North. Choreography It is sung, not danced. Music Very slow and split by frequent pauses to add drama and feeling. Women tend to sing in the highest possible pitch, a characteristic of Andean indigenous music. The melody is one of deep melancholy. Its mestizo variations are complemented by more uplifting rhythms like the marinera or huayno. Instruments This varies according to the region and cultural level of the singers. Occasions The lyrics are often a lament or complaint, generally about love, being jilted, the death of loved ones and social margination (ostracism, sickness or involuntary prison).
 

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huayano
  huayano
   
  The most popular rhythm in the Peruvian Andes and is present in all festive occasions. Origins It dates from pre-Hispanic times, but since the Colonial Era it has absorbed foreign influences and developed regional variations. Most popular in the highlands. Choreography This varies according to the region. It is danced by couples, but little physical contact is made. Music A great deal of regional variations here, too, but always laid down over a binary rhythm. Melodies based on the pentatonic scale occasionally add the some halftones from European scales. The harmonic structure alternates between minor and major keys. Instruments According to the area and cultural level. Occasions Played at all festive events or celebrations.

 

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sikuris
  sikuris or zampoña
   
 

Pan-pipe bands: These bands are the epitome of the harmony and complementary nature that should govern all human actions. Origins Pre-Hispanic times. Choreography Files of musicians form a circle around the director of the group. Music Each musician can only play half the notes required in a melody. The melodies are played by alternating between musicians, each of whom plays the following note. Instruments Zampoñas which are always played in couples, as each one only plays half the notes of the scale. Occasions Traditional celebrations in Puno and any festive occasion in the highlands.
 

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huaylarsh
  huaylarsh
   
 

The liveliest dance in the central highlands. Origins Activities related to the sowing season of the traditional agricultural calendar. Choreography Lively, energetic movements marked by constant shoe-stepping and near-acrobatics. It is danced by couples who take turns to carry out the various dance steps that are different for each sex. Music Gay and full of life, this rhythm has turned into the clearest expression of the dynamic and hard-working spirit of today's highland peasants, banishing the stereotype of the sad and resigned Indian plunged in melancholy. The lyrics can often be bawdy. Instruments Typical bands from the area (harp, violin, saxophone, clarinet), while the make-up of the band may vary according to the area. Occasions Mainly in the planting season to celebrate the fertility of the land and the people's productive capacity.
 

santiago
  santiago
   
 

The most widespread cattle-branding ritual in the Peruvian highlands. Origins Part of the Andean baptism ceremony, as well as rites to boost the fertility of their livestock. Choreography There are no dance steps as this is merely part of the traditional highland peasant ritual. Music Traditional pentatonic-scale melodies which are sung to give thanks to the gods who watch over the livestock and ensure fertility. The singers beg the gods to grant the shepherds good fortune with simple and monotonous rhythms, a characteristic of ritual music. Instruments The solo singer alternates with a musician who plays lustily on a cow's horn accompanied by the tinya drum. Occasions The lyrics always speak of the traditional peasant ceremony, and they only have meaning on these occasions.

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carnaval
  carnaval
   
 

This is common all over Peru, riddled by variations. The most famous carnival is celebrated in Puno (The Festival of the Virgin of the Candlestick), where the festival stands out for the richly-embroidered and colorful costumes and variety of dance steps. Origins It was originally a public celebration brought over from Europe during Colonial times. The natives incorporated it into their calendar of pre-Hispanic festivities and quickly blended it with their ancient traditions. Today it is not celebrated in the big cities, but is very rooted in rural areas and in the Amazon jungle. Choreography A group of dancers decked out in similar costumes, called a comparsa, dance their way around public areas accompanies by bands of musicians. Musical characteristics Generally festive. In many areas, singers sing rhymes back and forth, at times in a contest between men and women, generally using bawdy lyrics to make fun of the rival group. Instruments This varies depending on the region and participants' cultural level. Occasions It is celebrated all over the country during February, and in many areas it is added to traditional festivals.
 

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festejo
  festejo
   
 

Currently the most popular and representative Afro-Peruvian dance today. Origins Its current variation took shape in Lima at the beginning of the twentieth century, adapting traditional Afro-Peruvian forms. Choreography It is performed by couples, but lacks permanent contact between the dancers. It is a joyous dance and often can raise eyebrows as its choreography often portrays sexual relations. Musical characteristics The melodic structure is a simple one, with few harmonic variations, although the chorus often echoes the singer. The rhythmical structure, however, is a great deal more complex. The instruments work on variations on the basic rhythm both simultaneously yet in complementary fashion. There is a great deal of back-and-forth between musicians and improvisation among percussion instruments. Instruments The basic outfit needs a singer, backing singers, guitars and percussion. Traditional percussion is of Afro-Peruvian origin (cajón, cajita, quijada de burro ­literally a donkey's jawbone). Recently, bands have begun to add percussion like the tumbas and bongo and more modern instruments not of Afro-Peruvian inspiration such as electric guitar and bass. Occasions Social occasions that are not ceremonial, especially among black communities scattered down the central coast. Although the festejo originated amongst blacks, it has become popular amongst higher classes and all racial types.

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marinera
  marinera
   
 

Danced all over Peru, albeit with variations. The style crafted in Lima is the best-known. Origins The dance originated in the mid-nineteenth century based on long-running Afro-Peruvian roots. Eventually it was to spread into other regions and take on local styles which differentiate from each other in their own melodies and harmonic patterns. Choreography The dance has some basic features in common in all regions. It is a dance performed by couples but does not feature physical contact. The marinera is made up of specific steps and routines for both sexes. It features the use of a handkerchief twirled in the hand of each dancer and stands out for its complex choreography, which plays out across an orderly sequence whereby the couple moves around in synchronized fashion. Musical characteristics The rhythm is played in 6/8, which allows the musicians to alternate accents and rhythmical combinations, moving from 3/4 to 6/8 both in the music and the choreography. Some regions combine the dance with genres beforehand such as Tristes con Fuga de Marinera or afterwards, such as Marinera con Fuga de Huayno. Instruments These vary depending on the region, ranging from a singer accompanied by a guitarist to an fully-fledged marching band. Occasions Communal social festivals, although its often performed at official ceremonies and dance contests with regional costumes.
 

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vals
  vals
   
  There are regional styles of the waltz, too, although the coastal version (vals criollo) is the best-known. Origins The dance originated at the end of the nineteenth century amongst the lower classes in large cities, at a time when the Viennese Waltz was hugely popular at all class levels. Choreography The vals is danced by couples, holding one hand and half-embracing the waist, with a great deal more physical contact and sensuality than its Viennese cousin. Nor is there any synchronized choreography with the other couples on the dance floor. Dancers follow a one-two-three, syncopated rhythm dotted with plenty of sequences of rapid scales of notes. It is very popular amongst the lower classes. Musical characteristics It currently combines Afro-Peruvian rhythms with melodic and harmonic lines that have both cosmopolitan and popular Latin American overtones. The styles has varied immensely, however, to adapt to fashionable international styles. Instruments Traditionally, only Spanish acoustic guitars accompanied the vals, but today they have been joined by Afro-Peruvian percussion like the cajón and other instruments like electric bass and keyboards. Occasions Non-ceremonial social parties, especially in urban areas. The dance gradually spread upwards across the classes from its working-class roots.
 

cumbia
 

chica or peruvian cumbia

   
  The youngest of the musical genres in Peru, and one of the few to hold sway over Andean migrants across the country. Origins It originated in the 1960s on impoverished city outskirts, at a time when the Colombian cumbia was widely popular in Peru. Choreography It is danced by couples who alternatively hold hands and then part. The dance follows a simple binary rhythm and is not known for a great deal of variation in its dance steps. Musical characteristics Chicha is a combination of tropical rhythms, especially the Colombian cumbia, blended with traditional Andean melodies. It is an extremely joyful and danceable rhythm. Instruments Electric guitars, tropical percussion (congas and the huiro gourd) and drums. Occasions Non-cermonial parties. Often played at huge public dance halls in populous urban districts which mainly attract youngsters.

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Source: "El Dorado", April-June 1997. Promperu