Andean music is a collection of musical styles from the Andes region in South America. The earliest songs and melodies come from areas where the Quechua people (originally from Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Chile) and the Aymara people (originally from Bolivia) lived. These groups were part of the Inca Empire before Europeans arrived. Over time, their music was mixed with other musical styles. Andean music includes traditional folk songs from parts of Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador. It is most popular in rural areas and among Indigenous communities in South America. In the 1970s, the Nueva Canción movement helped spread Andean music across the continent, reintroducing it to regions where it had been forgotten.

Instruments

The panpipes group includes the sikú (also called zampoña) and Antara. These are ancient instruments made by indigenous people in South America. They come in different sizes, tunings, and styles. The instruments are made from reeds found in lakes in the Andean region. The sikú has two rows of canes and is tuned to either pentatonic or diatonic scales. Some modern panpipes, inspired by the Antara, have one row of canes and can play full scales. Traditional sikús use two rows of canes wrapped together. It is common for two musicians to share a melody when playing the larger sikú called the toyo. This method, where notes are shared between two players, is called hocket. This technique is still used in huaynos songs and in modern Andean music.

Quenas, which are notched-end flutes, are still widely used. They are traditionally made from the same reeds as sikús, though sometimes made from PVC pipe because it resists heat, cold, and humidity. Quenas are usually played during the dry season, while vertical flutes like pinkillos or tarkas are played during the wet season. Tarkas are made from local Andean hardwood. Today, marching bands that include drums and panpipes are common. These bands are used to celebrate events like weddings, carnivals, and other holidays.

Modern history

The twentieth century brought big changes to Andean society and culture. In Bolivia, a nationalistic revolution happened in 1952, which helped increase rights and awareness for native people. The new government created a folklore department in the Bolivian Ministry of Education, and radio stations started broadcasting in Aymara and Quechua languages.

By 1965, a group called Los Jairas formed in La Paz, Bolivia. The group mixed traditional sounds with styles that appealed to city Europeans and the middle class. One member of Los Jairas, Gilbert Favre (a Swiss-French flautist), had previously known the Parras (Ángel, Isabel, and their mother Violeta) in Paris. The Parras later promoted indigenous music in Santiago, Chile. Simon and Garfunkel covered the song "El Cóndor Pasa" by Los Incas, and Andean music became famous worldwide.

In the late 1960s, groups like Ruphay, Grupo Aymara, and the well-known Quechua singer Luzmila Carpio emerged. Later, Chilean groups such as Inti-Illimani and Los Curacas built on the work of Los Jairas and the Parras to create nueva canción. This style returned to Bolivia in the 1980s through artists like Emma Junaro and Matilde Casazola, who performed canto nuevo music.

The 1970s was a time of major growth for Andean music. Many groups formed in villages across the Andes Region, including Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia, southern Colombia, and northwest Argentina. Musicians traveled to big cities and formed bands. One of the most famous groups was Los Kjarkas from Bolivia, who created songs that became popular in Bolivia and later became standards of Andean music. Their work helped spread Andean music to people around the world.

Genres and relationships to other musical styles

• Carnavalito
• Diablada – From Bolivia
• Morenada – From Bolivia
• Tinku – Originated from Bolivia. It is a ritual that includes acts of sacrifice to the earth to bring good fortune and ensure successful harvests in future seasons.
• K'antu – An ancient style of music and circle dance that has been around since the Inca or even pre-Inca times in the highlands of Peru and Bolivia.
• San Juanito – Originated in Ecuador, northern Peru, and southern Colombia. It was once connected to a solar festival called Inti Raymi.
• Huayno (wayñu) – Originated in colonial Peru as a mix of traditional rural music and urban dance music. High-pitched singing is accompanied by many instruments, including the quena (flute), harp, siku (panpipe), accordion, saxophone, charango, lute, violin, guitar, and mandolin. Some parts of huayno come from the music of the pre-Columbian Andes, especially in areas once ruled by the Inca. Huayno uses a unique rhythm where the first beat is strong and followed by two short beats. Subgenres include Sikuri, Carnaval Ayacuchano, Hiyawa, and Chuscada.
• Harawi – An ancient musical style and form of indigenous poetry. It was common in the Inca Empire and is now heard in countries like Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and parts of Chile. Harawi is usually a slow, emotional song played on the quena.
• Afro-Bolivian Saya
• Chicha – Originated in Peru in the late 1980s as a mix of cumbia and huayno music.
• Huaylía
• Waylas Huaylarsh – Originated in the central Andes of Peru in the Mántaro Valley, located in the Junín region.
• Toril or Waka Taki – Originated in the Apurimac region of Peru.
• Chimayche – Performed mainly in the provinces of Sihuas, Pomabamba, and Mariscal Luzuriaga in Áncash, Peru.
• Cueca
• Qhaswa
• Tarkeada – An Aymara musical style played on wooden flutes called tarkas. It is common in Bolivia, Puno, Peru, Parinacota, Chile, and northern Argentina.
• Huayllacha – From the Colca Canyon in Arequipa.
• Marinera – An Afro-Peruvian rhythm.

Cumbia originally came from the Caribbean coast of Colombia and later spread throughout Latin America. In Peru, it developed into a style called chicha, which is popular in the Andes, especially among people from lower income groups, including Quechua and Aymara communities. Many Andean music styles have borrowed elements from Peruvian cumbia, such as electric bass guitars and electronic percussion, while using only parts of the original cumbia rhythm.

Andean music has been a major influence for the Nueva canción movement, which began in the 1960s. Nueva canción musicians performed old songs and created new ones that are now considered Andean music. Some musicians, like Los Jaivas, combined Andean music with psychedelic and progressive rock.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the rock en español movement focused more on hard rock, pop rock, punk, alternative rock, and new wave music. However, some elements of Andean music have been used in rock en español songs, such as "Cuando pase el temblor" by Soda Stereo and "Lamento boliviano" by Los Enanitos Verdes.