Recorded in 1994 in the Piura area of Peru, this disc explores many of the musical traditions that take place during the year, be they sacred or (more particularly) secular music, be they songs or dances, in addition to some theater music. And certainly it's the dances that offer the most musical interest here, played by bands of all sizes and instrumental variations.
"Negros"
is especially fascinating for its mix of clarinet and saxophone, although, on the evidence presented here, the clarinet found great popularity as an instrument with bands in this area of Peru. But you can also hear
string bands
and the lovely
"Pastoras,"
sung by a mini-choir of five girls accompanied by two guitars. No one's going to say this is for a mass audience, but as an ethnomusicological document, it's invaluable, recording traditions that have roots deep in Peru's history -- although how much longer they might survive in the modern world is anyone's guess. ~ Chris Nickson