Music of the Andes at Duvall concert
Published 2:44 pm Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Traditional Andean musical group, Quichua Mashis, gives a concert, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, at the Duvall Visitor Center, 15619 Main St. There is a $5 suggested donation.
The concert is presented in partnership with the Duvall Cultural Commission and the Ethnic Heritage Council.
The members of Quichua Mashis are Quichua Indians from the Andean mountains of northern Ecuador. Better known as the Inca Empire, the Quichua region of South America covers Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. The music they share has been passed down through the generations, with musical education in the homes beginning as soon as children can hold an instrument, at around age 5. The music of Quichua Mashis reflects the struggle of the Quichua people, their connection to “Pacha Mama” (mother earth) and their spiritual journeys through history.
Many of the instruments are handmade in traditional ways with native materials; bamboo, sheep hooves, goat skins and armadillo shells. They perform on zamponas (panpipe flutes), quenas (endblown flutes), the bombo (drum), and chakchas (rattle). The charango resembles a guitar but is much smaller, only 24 inches long, and has 10 strings. The traditional instruments are accompanied by the guitar, mandolin and violin.
