An ensemble from Chile will teach you about the diversity of its Folk music
Saxophonist Cristobal Araya
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This Saturday afternoon, if you drop by at The Mumbai Assembly in Bandra, expect your ears to perk up to groovy rhythms from the South American country of Chile. That’s courtesy a three-hour Chilean Folk music workshop conducted by the Ensamble Transatlantico de Folk Chileno that debuts in the city.
Monserrat ‘Mona’ Vasquez plays the Andean bombo (brass drums)
Chile, a narrow land mass between the Andes mountain range and the Pacific Ocean, is musically diverse, asserts Ernesto Calderón, accordionist and the conductor of the four-year-old and 35-member-strong music ensemble, who will present the workshop. “In the north of Chile, we have Andean music while Central Chile, where we come from, has a strong Cueca (the national dance of Chile) tradition, which is a mix of southern Spanish and African music,” he shares.
Ernesto Calderon, accordionist and conductor of the Ensamble Transatlantico de Folk Chileno
The focus of the workshop will be on music from North and Central Chile, including the popular Andean swing in 2/4 and 4/4 rhythms along with the Cueca featuring a unique quintuplet swing. “Since Chilean music is influenced by surrounding cultures, the workshop will introduce you to Latin American Folk music, covering styles played in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia,” informs Calderón. Joining him is saxophonist and clarinet player Cristobal Araya, and percussionist Monserrat ‘Mona’ Vasquez. Vocalist Parvati La Cantante, and 14-year-old drummer Aditya Baghavatula are also part of the workshop.
If you own an acoustic guitar, carry it along to jam with the artistes. “Keyboards and bass guitars are also welcome,” he adds. The team will also elaborate on Ritmo con Señas (rhythm with signs), a unique hand sign language for improvisation created in Argentina by Santiago Vasquez.
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