Bolivian Festivals
Folk Tradition: Festivals, Textiles, Music and Dance
"Diablada" (devil dance) - Carnival in Oruro, Bolivia
|
Bolivia's multi ethnic background
stems from its indigenous roots as well as from Spanish colonisation
and later African, Asian and European immigration. The mixture of
beliefs and religions coupled with the rugged territory to which
all these peoples have had to adapt, has given rise to a deep and
rich folk heritage.
This heritage comes to life in the
multitude of festivals celebrated in Bolivia year round; in the
distinctive textiles - the most important form of creative expression
in rural parts of the country - in the hats, the crafts, and in
this country's exceptional musical tradition.
We will keep a watchful eye over
festivals and build them into your visit whenever possible.
MUSIC FESTIVAL OF CHIQUITOS (BOLIVIA)
April - May 2008
The flatlands of Bolivia are little known to the
foreign visitor. Northeast of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, bordering
the Mato Grosso of Brazil to the north, and the Paraguayan Chaco
to the south lies a vast, sprawling and sparsely populated area
known as Chiquitos. The area, mainly given to cattle ranching
is seemingly of little interest to the traveller.
But this part of Bolivia has a fascinating history
and a precious heritage. Here stand 6 mission churches, completely
restored, of the 10 founded by the Jesuits in the 17th century.
They have been completely restored giving testimony of the splendour
of the time, and they still constitute the centre of community life,
much like during the Jesuit times.
What is more interesting is that it is the home of
the only Archive of Missional Music in the Americas. During the
churches restoration, an archive of 16th century music composed
in the missions and forgotten for centuries was discovered, triggering
a unique musical revival in one of the poorest regions in America.
Bolivian and foreign musicologists started years
ago to transcribe and interpret this missional music. Remarkable
pieces such as the Requiem Chiquitano, Misa Encarnacion and Nocturnos
all from Chiquitos, have come into the repertoire of many orchestras.
This led to the establishment of the International
Renaissance and Baroque American Music Festival that takes place
during two weeks, every two years in the churches of the old Chiquito
Mission towns and in Santa Cruz. This has helped to create consciousness
and pride among the local people on their heritage and traditions.
It has also led to the creation of orchestras and choruses in some
of the most remote and poorest villages in the Bolivian jungle.
The high artistic level and the deep cultural meaning
of the works made UNESCO to declare the Patrimony of Humanity the
towns of San Javier, Concepción, San Miguel, San Rafael,
Santa Ana and San José de Chiquitos in 1991.
The 7th International Renaissance and Barroque
American Music Festival "Jesuistic Missions of Chiquitania",
will take place from April 24th to May 4th, 2008
At Aracari, we offer you the possibility of witnessing
this wonderful festival which takes place simultaneously in Santa
Cruz de la Sierra and the Chiquitos villages, with the participation
of Baroque music orchestras from around the world.
Our itinerary will transport you to the age of the
Missions and will provide enough time to attend the concerts and
visit the villages and churches. You will be able to appreciate
the region's architecture, its landscape with vast, flat, tropical
plains, and smooth undulations known as "lomeríos."
|