Ecuador

[[image:http://www.travelworldpp.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ecuador.png width="500" height="250" caption="Ecuador Flag"]]
Ecuadorian music is one of the most accepted in Hispanic countries, and is multi-cultural, and multi-ethical. Ecuador's music is the combination of African, Andean and European music. The indigenous music of Ecuador is heavily influenced by the Africans. In the Ecuadorian highlands, music styles greatly based on the traditional indigenous influence. It is mostly influenced by the uses of flutes and guitars. Ecuador's music is based on orchestras of wind instruments which is really important in their fiestas, and social events.



In Ecuador one of the most popular styles is the Pasillo. Pasillo is down-tempo played with guitar and flute ( slow rhythm, poetic and sentimental texts, and melancholy melodies). The lyrics of Pasillo are sentimental and poetic. Ecuadorian music represents Ecuadorian life. Other than that, there are also many other tpes of popular rhythms in Eqadorean music: Albazos, Pasacalles, Tonadas, Danzantes, Yaravies, Carnavales etc. Many originated from the roots of the indigenous population. There is a large stock of funeral music, which is sung, accompanied by heavy percussion. Another style of music that uses Ecuadorian Andes rhythm, is Sanjuanito. This style of music use to be a cultural expression played by indigenous tribes, in the Andes Mountains, and has a happy tone that is easy to dance to. Music is still very popular today, such as in during street celebrations, and there are some songs that even have traditional dancers to accompany it. Some connections can even be made with traditional Japanese music, because both share the same scales and similar characteristics. In some tombs, archeologist have found musical artifacts, such as drums, flutes, and trumpets. A special musical instrument and style of music, is marimba. The instrument consists of wooden bars, tuned to produce a chromatic scale, played with small mallets. This type of music represents the Esmeraldas in the Northern coast of Ecuador, they also retained some African culture.



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By: Veronica and Erwin