Musica de Chiloe

Folklore, Syncretism, and Cultural Development in a Chilean Aquapelago

By: Dan Bendrups, Philip Hayward, Dr. Waldo Garrido

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eText | 3 December 2018

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The islands of Chiloé, in southern Chile, have developed a distinct culture over several centuries, blending indigenous traditions and Spanish settler heritage to create a vibrant pattern of folklore, music, dance, and related creative practices. This cultural heritage has become an important aspect of the islands’ identity and is key to their successful marketing as a tourist destination. However, these elements exist in tension with new developments, most particularly the introduction of salmon aquaculture, which has disrupted traditional livelihood patterns and polluted the region’s marine environment. This volume analyzes the development of the islands’ distinct culture with a particular focus on music and dance. Key topics include the relation of tradition and modernity, the impact of tourism on cultural practice, and the relationship between social activism and music culture. The authors complement this focus with a discussion of their own creative engagements with the region through the production of the music album Viaje a Chiloé (2018) and through the work of the audiovisual ensemble The Moviolas (in 2015–2018).

Industry Reviews

The book brings together three contrasting yet intersecting types of engagement with the musical culture of Chiloé. The authors offer an engaging discourse around notions of space relating to diverse music and folklore topics, and include distinct and fascinating personal and creative engagements on Chiloé and Chilote cultural themes. Of particular note is the socio-spatial concept of aquapelago (“an integrated terrestrial and marine space generated by human livelihood activities”), which is introduced through the analytical lens of island studies. The text offers an intriguing interpretation of cultural phenomena that has much relevance for contemporary cultural music research, island studies, and related cultural fields.