The folklore of the Andean region of Colombia was formed from a series of popular traditions appreciated by the people, mainly due to its essentially mestizo conformation, forming part of the so-called American tri-hybrid nations.
Folklore is transmitted spontaneously in musical manifestations, speech, and many of the daily festivals and customs. The durability of its customs depends on its population.
Folklore of the Andean region of Colombia
In the case of the Andean region of Colombia, miscegenation and, above all, Spanish and Catholic influence influenced the formation of the most traditional folkloric manifestations.
Folklore manifestations of the Andean region
The Andean region of Colombia has a diverse variety of festivals and rituals in which the folklore of this region is revealed.
In them, features of indigenous, black and Spanish traditions are manifested in both religious and secular celebrations.
Many of these festivals are related to the religious calendar of Catholicism and remain in force because two thirds of the Colombian population considers themselves practicing Catholics.
Secular festivals, for their part, maintain a relationship with indigenous, black, peasant and urban traditions, with musicians and dancers being the officiants or conductors of the festive ritual.
Parades, dances, bullfights and a lot of music are the constant in the folkloric festivals of the Colombian Andean regions.
Parties
Among the most important folkloric manifestations are the Candlemas Festival, the Black and White Carnival in honor of the Three Wise Men, the San Juan and San Pedro Festivities, the Corpus Christi Festival, the National Festival of La Guabina and the Tiple, The Devil's Carnival or the Manizales Festival.
Musical styles
In all these parties and celebrations dance and music are constant. The representative folkloric manifestations of the Andes are the bambuco, the guabina, the corridor, the sanjuanero and the whirlwind.
These musical styles are considered exclusive to the Andean region because their interpretation does not resemble other rhythms of the Colombian territory, which is why their origin in this area is confirmed.
Dances
The bambuco, understood as a musical style and as a dance, appears as the most important folkloric manifestation of the Andean region and the most widely disseminated in Colombia.
Its roots come from the black culture, as it was danced by the slaves who lived in the Cauca region in the 18th century.
Despite being considered a typical tune and dance of the Andean region, it was so popular that it spread throughout all Colombian departments, even adding some variations.
This dance is performed in pairs and is also called as the expression of peasant romance.
The movements, both male and female, simulate a courtship and the game between acceptance and rejection.
In its musical aspect it is interpreted in 6/8 with strings and flutes and couplets are sung on them.
References
- Ocampo, J. (2006). Colombian folklore, customs and traditions. Bogotá: Plaza & Janes. Retrieved on October 23, 2017 from: books.google.es
- Duque, C. (2005). Territories and imaginaries between urban places. Identity and region processes in cities of the Colombian Andes. Bogotá: University of Caldas. Retrieved on October 23, 2017 from: books.google.es
- Koorn, D. (1977) Folk music of the Colombian Andes. Washintong: Washington University. Retrieved on October 23, 2017 from: books.google.es
- Borsdorf, A; Stadel, C. (2015). The Andes. A Geographical Portrail. Switzerland: Austral. Retrieved on October 23, 2017 from: books.google.es
- Ocampo, J. (2004). Music and folklore of Colombia. Bogotá: Plaza & Janes. Retrieved on October 23, 2017 from: books.google.es
- Jaramillo, J. (sf). Peasants of the Andes. Bogotá: National University of Colombia. Retrieved on October 21, 2017 from: magazines.unal.edu.co