Music of Ecuador

The music of Ecuador has a long history. Pasillo is a genre of indigenous Latin music. It is extremely popular in Ecuador, where it is the "national genre of music." Pasillo as a genre is also present in the mountainous regions of Colombia, Panama and Venezuela, to a lesser extent.

Today, it has incorporated more European features of classical dance, such as a waltz. As it spread during the Gran Chaco period, pasillo also absorbed the individual characteristics of isolated villages. This gives it an eclectic feel; however, the style, tone, and tempo of the music differ in each village.

In its waltz, pasillo alters the classically European dance form to accompany guitar, mandolin, and other string instruments.

The pacific coast of Ecuador is known for the Amor Fino, a popular type of song, as well as a variety of dance music.

Pasillo, Pasacalle and Yarabi are popular folk songs. El pasillo is played with guitar and rondin, the latter being similar to a flute, and is usually downtempo; it is descended from the walz. El pasacalle is a form of dance music, while the sentimental el yarabi is probably the most popular form in Ecuador.

Central Ecuador

The instrument of the indigenous communities of the Ecuadorian highlands is largely flute. Guitar and brass bands are also found throughout the area. Popular performers include Peguche, Benitez-Valencia and Ñanda-Mañachi.

Andean music (La Sierra)

The mountainous, Andean region of Ecuador, the Sierra, is home to a style of music called Sanjuanito. The music of the Otavalo people are well-known worldwide. A small panpipe called the rondador is the most distinctive instrument, but ensembles are typically groups of wind instruments, guitar trios or brass bands. Folk rhythms include cachullapi, yumbo and danzante Musicians like Huayanay, Jatari, Pueblo Nuevo and Andes Manta have helped to popularize Andean-Ecuadoran music.

Musica Costeña (Music of the Coast)

People from the Coast of Ecuador or Costeños listen to music of Afro-Ecuadorian or Afro-Caribbean descent such as Salsa, Merengue and Mapalé all the cities in the coast of Ecuador listen to this type of music, cities such as Guayaquil and Esmeraldas.

Folk instruments

• cunuca: a percussion instrument similar to a conga drum
• bombos
• conuno
• Pingullo: a wind instrument similar to a wooden recorder. Native to the Quichua people in the Napo province

Music institutions

The Fundación de Desarrollo Social Afroecuatoriano (AZUCAR) has existed since 1993, and offers a variety of workshops for all ages in music and dance, as well as handicrafts and other topics [1].

Music festivals

Ecuador has many annual festivals, with nearly every village celebrating a Roman Catholic Saint. The annual festival in August held in San Antonio de Pichincha is particularly well-known [2] As well as the Independent Music Festival Quito Fest.

External links

Latin American music portal

• Music from the Andes and Nearby Regions