Bolivia: Panpipes

French ethnographer Louis Girault recorded this album between 1955 and 1973, often transporting his heavy recording equipment by wheelbarrow or mule. His field recordings were made in the Quechua-speaking communities of the Charazani region and the Aymara-speaking communities of Altiplano, in the province of La Paz. The album contains pre-Columbian songs and dances, including several examples no longer performed today. Archaeological evidence shows that panpipes (antaras and sikus) were not only used in the Andes hundreds of years before the Inca Empire, but were made from a variety of material: reed, stone, ceramic, wood, or even metal. They were often played in complementary pairs of three or four different sizes. The largest siku in an ensemble is called tayca irpa, “the grandmother who leads.” The ensemble playing the final song on this album, “Kacharpaya,” is comprised of 18 sikus and five phuthukas (drums). It is performed to wish a visitor well on their journey home and a swift return.

Track Listing

101	Yaku Kantu Kantu panpipe ensemble of Chari, Bautista Saavedra	03:08
102	Tika Tika Kantu panpipe ensemble of Chari, Bautista Saavedra	02:42
103	Yuyarikuy Kantu Kantu panpipe ensemble of Chari, Bautista Saavedra	02:47
104	Kacharpaya Kantu Kantu panpipe ensemble of Chari, Bautista Saavedra	03:26
105	Kanchitu Kallawaya panpipe ensemble of Charazani, Bautista Saavedra	02:32
106	Komer Chakra Kallawaya panpipe ensemble of Charazani, Bautista Saavedra	02:40
107	Chakipacha Kallawaya panpipe ensemble of Charazani, Bautista Saavedra	02:40
108	Akamani Kallawaya panpipe ensemble of Charazani, Bautista Saavedra	03:41
109	Baile Chiriwano Chiriwanos panpipe ensemble of Umala, Aroma	01:37
110	Danza de Los Kunthuris Panpipe ensemble of Corocoro, Pacajes	05:37
111	Huayno de Los Kunthuris Panpipe ensemble of Corocoro, Pacajes	01:38
112	Danza Laquita: Danza / Loas / Llano Panpipe ensemble of Karhuiza, Los Andes	11:30
113	Kacharpaya Aymara siku orchestra	02:18