Contextual Issues in Andean Music from Peru

This piece, LLAQULLA, is performed by the Ayarachi, most likely not a formal title for a performing group but the name of the area that these people are from. The song and dance are for a funeral which is accented by the slower tempo called waynos lentos. The traditional matching colors of the group also speak to them all being from the same area. The song uses bombos, sikus and pitus—drums, panpipe and flute.

There are a couple things to note in this piece when it comes to the context and musical structure. First, as noted above, these people are all from the same people group, or area, as denoted by their attire. They learn the songs from wrote via the oral tradition, which affects the complexity of the piece. The performers are not selected for the ensemble; rather anyone from the community can participate. This also affects the complexity of the song. Songs from this region are denoted primarially by their tempo. It is fitting that for a funeral, the slower tempo song waynos lentos would be used. In order to have the melody be continuous, the panpipe players must alternate playing notes. Finally, the structure of the song falls within the typical format from the region. The melody is played and repeated before another melody is played and repeated. Each section is set off with a cadence denoting either a repeat or the start of the next section, giving the song continuity. Each of these contextual issues help determine the structure of the music and way in which is performed. 

The structure of the song is as follows:

0:05  Drums set temp

0:07  Full cadence is performed

0:20  A section

0:37  Partial cadence

0:39  Repeat A section

0:55  Partial cadence

0:57  B section

1:11  Partial cadence

1:15  Repeat B section

1:30  Full cadence

1:42  A’ section—a repeat of the melody from A down a 5^th

1:56  Partial cadence

2:00  A’ section repeated

2:17  Partial cadence

2:20  B’ section—a repeat of the melody from the B section down a 5^th

2:33  Partial cadence

2:37  B’ section repeated

2:51  Full cadence

3:05  Ending of the song with a ritardando note and drum beat.