Sicuri

Sikuris Inkari from Peru

Sicuris is the name given generically to groups of traditional Bolivian musicians who play the siku. The name is due to the Aymara language word sikuri, which alludes to the siku player and, in addition, to various musical genres and dances of these groups.

The siku is a wind instrument made from a set of reeds, the name comes from the aimara voice siktasiña which means 'ask oneself' or 'communicate', social and natural human activity of the altiplano man. This instrument is also related to the panpipe and the antara of the Quechuas. The sikus come from the tubular instruments used by different pre-Columbian cultures, similar to pan flutes. In Peru it is argued that the oldest would have been dated to 4000 years BC in the Caral-Supe civilization on the Peruvian coast. From there it would have undergone many transformations until it reached the Altiplano.

The siku is an eminently collective instrument, played by the so-called players, who, forming human groups, intersperse (braid the melody) between pairs of "players", since some play the "ira" that they are of 6 reeds and the "arka" those of 7 reeds.

Roles of interpreting the sicuri

The cuts or sizes of this instrument are varied, and are associated with the ages of the family in a community, where the standard size called "malta" it would correspond to touch the young, followed by the "trenches" a little bigger and with a low tone that would be appropriate for adults to play, finally there are the "chilis", which are the smallest that would be appropriate for children to play. On the other hand, in groups like the "Qhantati Ururi de Conima" or the "Qkeni Sankayo" from Peru, there are other cuts compared to the previous ones such as the "contramaltas", "contrazanjas", "bajos chilis", the latter slightly nuance, out of step with the above, the result of a modern addition of thirds and fifths; In general, when performed together, a melodious symphony is produced, called "sikureada".

Variants and musical styles

There are several variants and musical styles that are interpreted with the "siku" according to regions and localities.

Argentina

• Sikuris de Punta Corral (Jujuy)
• Sikuris de Tilcara (Jujuy)
• Sikuris de Salta
• Sikuris de Catamarca
• Sikuris de Tucumán

Bolivia

• Sikuris de Italaque
• Jacha sikuris (Provincia Camacho, La Paz)
• Inkasikuris
• Huayñosikuris
• Sikuris de Ilabaya (Sorata)
• Sikuri imilla (Ancoraimes)
• Sikuris de Tapacarí (Cochabamba)
• Mistisikuri- Sicumoreno
• Sikureada (La Paz, Oruro, Cochabamba, Potosí and Chuquisaca)
• Suri sikuri phusiris (La Paz)
• Wititis sikuri (Oruro)
• Thantamorenos sikuris (Chuquisaca)
• Sikuris pandilleros

Chile

• Sikuris de Isluga
• Sikuris de Enquelga
• Sikuris de Cariquima
• Sikuris de Chijo

Peru

• Sikuris de Conima
• Sikuris de Huancané

Featured performers

Bolivia

In Bolivia there is an infinity of styles of Bolivian musical forms and dances related to instruments of the pan flute family (ayarachis, arachis, ayarichis, awarachis, jula julas, julu julus, kantus, etc.) that have played a important role in the history of the country. Strictly related to the sikuris groups in Bolivia, we can point to a group of Sikuris from the Ayllus de Italaque that performed for the first time in the City of La Paz, at a time when there was a notable rejection of musical forms. indigenous and peasant women in urban areas. It is also possible to highlight the important diffusion made by sikuris ensembles such as the Los Cebollitas Ensemble and the Los Choclos Ensemble. The Bolivian sicumoreno ensemble Los Marineros del Lago de Sica Sica from La Paz, spread this Bolivian musical expression in Puno Peru, for which later a Peruvian ensemble of Cintakanas from the Mañazo neighborhood of Puno decided to imitate the Bolivian ensemble, changing to Ensemble of Cintakanas to Conjunto Sikuris from the Mañazo neighborhood, whose embroidered costumes were rented from Bolivia. Currently we can mention the "Centro Cultural Sajama", the "Markasata Community", the "Conjunto de Sikuris Sonk'o Wayras", the & #34;Jacha Tunupa Cultural Center" and the "Kory Majtas Folk Ensemble" as main exponents. The "Sikureada Festival" in the city of Oruro. Among the most popular Bolivian compositions we can mention:

- "Cactus Flower" Composed by Bolivian composer Javier Mantilla in 1932.

- "Achankara Pankarita"

- "Boy Chiquita"

- "My Heart"

There is a popular kantu by Charazani entitled "Ama Konkawaychu Victor Paz (Agüita de Putina)", whose lyrics were composed by the Bolivian Javier Mantilla. Usually it is confused as sikuri, however it corresponds to a Kantu of Charazani.

Peru

The town of Huancané - Puno -Peru, known in Peru as the cradle of the sikuris, from which various ensembles emerge as a form of community Andean cultural expression, stands out for the great diffusion and notoriety of the music of the sikuris.

The region of Puno - Peru is also called a strong promoter of sikuri, in which this type of music predominates in community events as an emblematic rhythm and dance as the cultural heritage of the people. It also stands out among other towns for presenting every year the meeting of sikuriadas, which are attended by various Peruvian groups of different ages and populations to show off their most recent compositions, culminating the festivity with the collective interpretation of the sikuris of yesteryear Peruvian compositions, among which stand:

- "Linda Huancaneña"

- "The aurochs"

- "September 29"

One of the most popular groups of sicuris are the Sikuris from the Barrio Mañazo in Puno Peru, greatest exponents of Siku moreno or Misty sikuri in Peru, whose melodies have inspired many groups and composers nationwide. Several ensembles from the province of Huancane also stand out, such as the red carnations, the Huarihumas de Rosaspata, among other sicuris associations, and finally, the zampoñista ensembles from the province of Yunguyo, another sub-genre of siku that has its own style, such as the zampoñada 10 de octubre los Viejitos, la juventud 10 de octubre and groups of educational institutions such as Juventud Micaela Bastidas, José Gálvez, Cesar Vallejo and others that have great national and international recognition.