Vals (Peruvian)
Encyclopedia
The Creole Waltz or Peruvian Waltz , is an adaptation of the European Waltz
brought to the Americas
during colonial times by Spain
. In the Viceroyalty of Peru
, the Waltz was slowly changed to the likings of the Criollo
people. After the independence of Peru
, the dance became symbolic of the nation's culture as it gained widespread popularity in the country.
, Laureano Martinez, Carlos Saco, Filomeno Ormeño, and Alicia Maguiña enriched and drove the music at the time.
such as the Tango
. By the 1950s, popular composer and singer Chabuca Granda
helped in making the music widely known throughout Latin America
, and the name Vals Peruano in time became used to refer to the dance in countries outside of Peru
. At the height of its national and international popularity, the sounds of the 1950s and into the 1970s were introduced into the Vals Peruano by musicians and singers such as Lucha Reyes
, Los Morochucos, Los Troveros Criollos
, Fiesta Criolla and later on Eva Ayllón
, Arturo Cavero and Oscar Avilés.
In modern times, the Vals Peruano, although softer and less traditional than before, still remains a widely popular symbol of Peruvian culture and still holds a certain degree of popularity in Latin America
n society.
. Typically, the lead guitarist plays solos and strongly plucked phrase on the upper strings, while a second guitarist performs riffs (bordones) on the two lowest strings and strums rhythmically. In the early part of the twentieth century, the guitars along with handclapping and singing were the traditional instrumentation . However, by the mid-twentieth century, the cajón was incorporated, providing a rhythmic base for the music.
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
brought to the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
during colonial times by Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. In the Viceroyalty of Peru
Viceroyalty of Peru
Created in 1542, the Viceroyalty of Peru was a Spanish colonial administrative district that originally contained most of Spanish-ruled South America, governed from the capital of Lima...
, the Waltz was slowly changed to the likings of the Criollo
Criollo (people)
The Criollo class ranked below that of the Iberian Peninsulares, the high-born permanent residence colonists born in Spain. But Criollos were higher status/rank than all other castes—people of mixed descent, Amerindians, and enslaved Africans...
people. After the independence of Peru
Independence of Peru
The Peruvian War of Independence was a series of military conflicts beginning in 1809 that culminated in the proclamation of the independence of Peru by José de San Martín on July 28, 1821. During the previous decade Peru had been a stronghold for royalists, who fought those in favor of...
, the dance became symbolic of the nation's culture as it gained widespread popularity in the country.
History
"La Guardia Vieja," translated as "the old guard," was a time period in Peru approximately from 1900-1920 in which as a result of the combination of European, Afro-Peruvian, and indigenous musical elements the vals criollo emerged among the public. The music is characterized by the use of a 3/4 waltz tempo, sometimes 6/8 compound time, and the lyrics consist of verses in strophic form with intercalated choruses. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the vals criollo became the main musical expression of the urban working class, with its lyrics reflecting their cultural personality, conflicts, and value systems. Composers such as Felipe Pinglo AlvaFelipe Pinglo Alva
Felipe Pinglo Alva , known as the father of Peruvian Musica criolla, was an influential and prolific poet and songwriter best known for his often covered "El Plebeyo"...
, Laureano Martinez, Carlos Saco, Filomeno Ormeño, and Alicia Maguiña enriched and drove the music at the time.
Development
In the 1940s, groups like Los Trovadores del Perú, Los Chalanes del Perú and later Los Morochucos y Los Embajadores Criollos created a unique sound that made the now called Vals Criollo and music more distinct from the European Waltz and other dances of South AmericaSouth America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
such as the Tango
Tango (dance)
Tango dance originated in the area of the Rio de la Plata , and spread to the rest of the world soon after....
. By the 1950s, popular composer and singer Chabuca Granda
Chabuca Granda
María Isabel Granda Larco , better known as Chabuca Granda, was a Peruvian singer and composer. She created and interpreted a vast number of Criollo waltzes with Afro-Peruvian rhythms...
helped in making the music widely known throughout Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, and the name Vals Peruano in time became used to refer to the dance in countries outside of Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. At the height of its national and international popularity, the sounds of the 1950s and into the 1970s were introduced into the Vals Peruano by musicians and singers such as Lucha Reyes
Lucha Reyes (Peruvian singer)
Lucila J. Sarsines Reyes , was a Peruvian performer and one of the most respected singers of her country, one of Peru's most famous Afro-Peruvian personalities as well as a symbol of Peruvian nationalism both in Peru and to expatriates.-History:Born to a poor family in the capital, Lima, Reyes was...
, Los Morochucos, Los Troveros Criollos
Los Troveros Criollos
Los Troveros Criollos is one of the most relevant groups in the history of Peruvian's musica criolla. Between 1952 and 1961 they recorded a wide range of songs, which became standards within this genre.-History:...
, Fiesta Criolla and later on Eva Ayllón
Eva Ayllón
Eva Ayllón , a composer and singer, is one of Peru's foremost Afro-Peruvian musicians, and one of the country's most enduring stars.-Biography:...
, Arturo Cavero and Oscar Avilés.
In modern times, the Vals Peruano, although softer and less traditional than before, still remains a widely popular symbol of Peruvian culture and still holds a certain degree of popularity in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n society.
Music
Musica Criolla such as the vals criollo, is typically includes two main instruments that symbolically represent European and African heritage: the guitar and the cajónCajón
A cajón is a box-shaped percussion instrument originally from Peru, played by slapping the front face with the hands.-Origins and evolution:...
. Typically, the lead guitarist plays solos and strongly plucked phrase on the upper strings, while a second guitarist performs riffs (bordones) on the two lowest strings and strums rhythmically. In the early part of the twentieth century, the guitars along with handclapping and singing were the traditional instrumentation . However, by the mid-twentieth century, the cajón was incorporated, providing a rhythmic base for the music.