Cusco is a region well known for its indigenous and colonial customs. Cusco is a beautiful city with architectural attractions and magnificent music. The music of Cusco is characterized by imitating the sounds of nature, the sounds of water, the tasting of birds and the roar of animals. Many of these instruments are made with bones and bird feathers.
Throughout the region there are many varieties of flutes and string instruments. Among all these last instruments we have the bandurria, a plucked string instrument very similar to the charango.
The bandurria cusqueña has become one of the most representative instruments of the region of Cusco. The bandurria possesses a variety of musical styles found in the thirteen provinces of Cusco.
Aware of this great musical tradition, the Ministry of Culture of Cusco organized a Regional Festival of the Bandurria where many artists performed who delighted with beautiful melodies and unique experiences. This festival was held on Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18, 2019. It began with a parade through the main streets of Cusco, starting in the Qoricancha and ending in the Plaza Mayor of Cusco at 2 pm on Friday.
After that parade, a conference was held on the origins, evolution, and the current legacy of the Bandurria in the University Hall of the UNSAAC. During this conference Omar Ponce Valdivia (Recognized Musicologist), Elder Olave Apaza (Director of the Fonoteca Cusco) and Gerardo Choque Tapia (Master Manufacturer of Bandurrias) participated.
On Saturday, May 18, the Bandurria Festival was held in the Inti Hall of the Municipal Theater with the performance of 11 musical groups and a guest group from Huancavelica. In this festival were present:
• José Corrales and La Campesinita de Acomayo.
• Little Mermaid of Coporaque and the Adventurers of the Stage.
• Sirenita de Canas and her Charming Bandurria.
• Serene Wind of Canas.
• Bandurrias de San Pablo.
• Illaq de Tinta Cultural Center.
• Reflections of Quispicanchi.
• Conjunto Dulce Corazón by Q’ello Qocha.
• Wallatitas de Huilloq.
• Conjunto Doce Amores de Paucartambo.
• Máximo Huaraca and his Conjunto Dos Sirenitas de Vilcanota.
• Master of the Bandurria de Acoria-Huancavelica.
The main objective of this festival was to raise awareness among the population about the importance in our culture of musical art based on the Bandurria.
Andean music is a great legacy that has been passed down from generation to generation and that has become an important piece in Andean culture. Today it delights the whole world with its beautiful melodies.
