Our identity is deeply connected to the culture of our nation. Over the years, our legacy has been shared between generations, weaving a rich tapestry that includes all communities. In the interior of the Amazon, indigenous groups contribute to a unique identity, maintaining their roots and philosophies of well-being. Their heritage includes diverse cultural elements, and music serves as a medium to convey their perspective.
Musical art for generations
Music embodies creativity and acts as a means of conveying the emotions, thoughts and experiences of a community. Musical art combines its unique elements, connecting listeners to the culture and emotions of the community that created it. In our country, music has its roots in pre-Hispanic times and in dances, along with a mixture of Creole dance and albazo.
In the Amazon region, music embodies unity and a deep connection with nature and the universe.
The diverse communities of the Amazon have successfully transmitted their cultural heritage and beliefs, showing their spiritual ties to the nature that surrounds them. It effectively conveys the rich history of the communities, capturing their emotions and feelings with clarity.
Instruments and their symbolism
The instruments used by the communities are handmade using raw materials from nature. They also use tools that they employ for hunting. The most commonly used instruments are:
Aerophones (wind)
The most common are flutes and trumpets, made from different plant materials such as cane, bamboo, wood and clay.
Chordophones
To generate sound, they use a tensioned string. In the Amazon, the Arco Sonoro (Soundbow) captivates with its unique construction, with elastic wood, a wire string and a resonator made of pumpkin. Hit the string with a drumstick to produce sound! Then use a coin or stone to play musical notes and create exciting sound effects.
Idiophones
These generate their sounds depending on the material used to make the instrument; they can be kicked, shaken, beaten or rubbed, as is the case with the tortoise shell.
Membranophones
These are instruments that use a membrane that generates sound when struck or rubbed. The most famous are the Manguaré drums, made from large wooden logs.
The purpose of each instrument is to set the rhythm for the creation of beats and sounds, giving priority to the sensitivity of the human aspect and achieving that connection with their divinities.
Naturalistic music
The sounds of the jungle, through which they express their passion for their environment and their struggle for survival. This festive music plays a vital role in celebrations such as weddings and births, celebrating fertility and the strong links between the forest and the people.
Funeral music
Inspired by the sounds of birds, it expresses grief at loss, but at the same time celebrates the fact that at the end of the cycle of life there is a return to the source of life, represented by the forest itself.
Yachay music
Shamanic rituals use melodies to honor the powerful forces of the elements and sacred animals, such as the jaguar, the caiman and the boa constrictor.
Music, fishing and gathering
The sounds translate into permission from “Mother Earth” to protect, honor and give thanks for the food obtained.
Preserving music
Today, many Amazonian communities face challenges related to the disappearance of their customs due to modernization and interaction with foreign cultures. However, there are initiatives underway to preserve this legacy, such as:
Workshops
The creation of schools strengthens the identity of the communities; in this way, the youngest members of the community learn to make and play.
Festivals
Cultural and traditional events celebrated by each community.
Tourism
Through community projects it is possible to learn about the heritage of the Amazon. This translates into a source of knowledge and revitalization.
Connection with music
The musical instruments of the Ecuadorian Amazon represent a deep connection with heritage, identity and respect for the environment. It is crucial to support indigenous communities in preserving their heritage and fostering appreciation for their distinctive traditions.
