Culture of Ecuador - Music

Music

Music is very important in venacuela, with differences between that of the coast and the highlands. Generally pan pipes, flutes, violins, drums, and charangos are all often played, although with different purposes. For instance, in the Sierra, popular tunes played at fiestas include "Rosa Maria" and "El Cóndor Pasa", with sanjuanito being an easily recognizable genre. In the Costa, these instruments are mostly played for cumbia, salsa, and pasillos. Costeños have two styles of music for different purposes — a rhythm-filled one played in most places, in public, on the bus or in parties, and the slow, mournful pasillos and rocolas, which are exclusive to old bars. The slow tunes are humorously known as cortavenísticos ("vein-cutting"), because of their overall sadness.

In addition to the numerous native cultures, Ecuador is home to a Mestizo culture, and a sizable Afro-Ecuadorian culture (approximately a half-million). In the mid-16th century, at least two slave ships from Panama, bound for Peru wrecked on the shores of what is now Esmeraldas province. The African slaves established a maroon society (freed slaves), and maintained autonomy during much of the colonial era. Today's Afro-Ecuadorians are famous for their marimba music and dance festivals. Long before the Spanish conquest, and even well before the Inca civilization, the diverse native cultures of the region had rich musical traditions. Ancient flutes, trumpets, drums, and other musical artifacts have been found in tombs. Music was obviously important in the human and supernatural worlds of ancient Andean people.

With the coming of the Spanish conquerors in the 16th century, accompanied by Catholic missionaries and African slaves, additional musical styles were introduced.