Die Gruppe spielt auf verschiedenen Panflöten, Trommeln und exotischen Percussions nicht nur die bekannte Indiomusik, sondern auch ganz anders klingende, eigene stimmungsvolle Kompositionen mit Naturgeräuschen sowie ausgelassene Tänze zum Karneval.

the project

Inkuyo, a group of accomplished musicians, brings the ancient instruments and songs of the majestic Andean highlands and of their Incan heritage, firmly into the 21st century. They take their name and inspiration from a remote mountain village high in the heart of the Andes where the people live as their ancestors have lived for centuries, and where music is an integral part of daily life.

Performing on the quena (a resonant cane flute), an assortment of pan-pipes, Andean drums and other percussion instruments, as well as specially constructed versions of the guitar, violin, harp, and tiple (introduced by the Spanish), the members of Inkuyo conjure a heady atmosphere of scintillating melodies and spicy, South American rhythms. The nineteen selections featured cover a vast musical territory inspired by Incan legends and the music of various tribes that pre-dated, or descended from, this great culture. Included on this recording are festive dances from Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador, pre-Colombian melodies, Andean love songs, and the music of the Callawaya, an isolated society of medicine men and magicians who retain to this day the ancient mystical knowledge and musical forms of the Incas. The recording also provides an example of tradition in transition, offering modern compositions inspired by the Chilean New Song movement, and folk-inspired originals from the members of Inkuyo.

the artists

Inkuyo combines the skills and musical insights of four talented artists. Gonzalo Vargas brings to the group his experiences growing up in the remote Andean village of Tapajkari, Bolivia, where he inherited a rich traditional musical knowledge. After playing with numerous groups in his native land, this virtuoso of pan-pipes and South American flutes has brought his ancestral music to the United States and Canada. As one of the founders of Sukay, he has played a key role in introducing Andean music to this continent.

Pamela Darington, a fifth generation Californian, studied South American cultures and languages in college. In 1983, as part of the group Takisun, she began performing with Vargas at festivals and concerts in the Bay area. Jorge Tapia and Omar Sepulveda are both Chilean refugees. For Tapia, music is a way of remaining close to his Chilean roots. A founder of Kamanchaka, he has helped cultivate awareness of the plight of the Chilean people. Sepulveda performed with Venceremos, Kamanchaka, and Sukay before joining Inkuyo in 1988.

biography

discography

tracklist