Andean music concert brings variety of cultural music to USU
For 10 years, the four-member international music group Llajtayku, or Pueblo Nuestro, has been performing traditional Andean music.
The name itself means “our people” in Quechua, the native language of the Incas.
“It’s beautiful to hear all the pipes interact – it’s the harmony,” said Antonio A. Arce, member of the Native American Student Council.
The members of the group are Fernando Espindola (Bolivia), the director and wind instrument player; Manuel Navarro (Chile) on wind instruments and percussion; David Arancibia (Chile) on wind instruments and charango; and David Peterson (Utah) on guitar.
The group will play several types of music. Baguala is a a softer, folk-type. Huaynos is the most traditional form. Carnavalipo is a “very, very native type” of music and the most common. El condor pasa is more classical. And cueca is “very happy music” most people like to dance to. Their instruments are traditional and handmade, Arce said.
The charando is a 10-string guitar that uses an armadillo shell as the box.
Arce said they did a similar performance last year that did very well. He said they had people lined up around the walls when seats ran out.
“I hope we have the same success this year,” Arce said.
The Andean music is typical of Columbia, Peru and North Argentina, Arce said.
Arce said “Llajtayku” is one of only two groups that play Andean music in Utah.
“They’re very well known in the Salt Lake area,” Arce said.
There will also be a cultural exposition of South American artifacts like wooden carvings and instruments, which has been presented in Utah, Colorado and Arizona.
A slide show with pictures from Altiplano and other places in South America will be shown.
The group will be performing on Tuesday, April 17 at 7 p.m. in the Eccles Conference Center. Admission is free.
This event is sponsored by the USU music department and the USU Native American Student Council.
For more information, see these Web pages: Amauta – multiculture.usu.edu/organizations
/nasc/amautai/; Inkataki – cc.usu.edu/~antonioaarce/; and Native Home page – multiculture.usu.edu/organizations/nasc/new/.