Peruvian zampoña pan-flutes (Photo: flÃ»tes de pan image by Jerome Dancette from Fotolia.com )
The South American nation of Peru boasts a rich musical heritage founded upon the melding of instruments and styles passed down by the forefathers of the Inca as well as the Spanish colonizers and African slaves. Zampoña pan-flutes and tiny charango guitars stand out in many of the country's traditional tunes, whereas the cajón percussion box and a slew of additional instruments feature prominently in other genres. Music and dance lie at the very heart of Peruvian culture, inspiring sweeping variations from region to region.
People that have never been to Peru usually only know about the traditional folklórico music that originated in the Andes. Famous for its melancholy pan-flute melodies and rhythmic charango guitar picking, folklórico music is often sung in a mix of Spanish and Quechua, the indigenous language of the Inca. While common in other Andean countries, such as Ecuador and Bolivia, folklórico remains quintessentially Peruvian. Popular artists include William Luna and Alborada.
Huayno is another traditional genre similar to folklórico. It has its roots in the pre-Columbian music of the highlands, and most festivals and weddings in the Andean provinces still feature huayno music and dancing. Huayno couples large bands with chirping harps and guitars as well as hopping and stomping dance moves. Dina Paucar and Alicia Delgado are two of the most famous huayno performers from Peru.
Música criolla emerged along the Pacific coast of Peru as Spaniards and African slaves blended their cultures with those of the indigenous tribes. Criolla features African rhythms, Spanish guitars, passionate dancing and loads of flair. The cajón percussion instrument figures heavily in most criolla music, especially in sub-genres such as festejo. Major artists like Eva Ayllon and Chabuca Granda are among the style's greatest exponents.
Chicha has become one of the most popular hybrid genres for Peru's urban working class. Chicha is a fusion of rock, cumbia and huayno that combines wistful guitar riffs with shuffling rhythms and soulful lyrics that usually focus around themes of poverty, heartbreak and life's many struggles. Chicha can often be heard blasting out of radios in homes and cantinas dotting the squatter settlements of Lima and other large cities. The singer Chacalon rose from these squatter settlements to great fame in the 60s and 70s. He died in 1994, but Chacalon still remains the godfather of this genre. Other famous groups, such as Guinda, Los Shapis and Centella, have helped to define chicha over the years.
There are several other genres common to much of Latin America, and while not so distinctly Peruvian, they are still immensely popular. Salsa has long been a staple in Peruvian music, and the district of Callao in Lima has a particularly well-known salsa scene. Cumbia also clogs the airwaves on most radio stations, with bands like Grupo Cinco and Hermanos Yaipen leading the way. Néctar, Peru's most famous cumbia troupe, was assassinated while touring in Argentina in 2007, but its music lives on. Reggaeton and hip-hop also hold sway in many of Peru's urban areas, and a burgeoning underground movement continues to gather momentum.
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