If you learn Spanish in Chile, you will quickly find that that music and dance are very important to the country’s people. The sound of the country’s folk music differs from one geographical zone to the next, and tends to change depending on if you are in north, central, or south Chile, or among the Rapa Nui or Mapuche people. However, the band Los Huasos Quincheros has been able to successfully unite the whole country with music that embodies the spirit of traditional folk music.
Believe it or not, this group has been popular since the 1930s. Four young college students started the group with the goal of popularizing traditional Chilean folk music. Of course, due to the long passage of time, all of the Huasos’ original members have been replaced. The group’s current incarnation recently staged a show called Tiempo de Recordar, or “Time to Remember,” to help people impacted by the recent earthquake. The goal of this event was to rebuild Chileans’ positive spirit through song.
The group’s music longs to create a sense of nostalgia for simpler times. It is evocative of traditions, the Chilean people and the country’s landscapes. Clearly, people respond to this music, as Los Huasos Quincheros have been performing for an impressive eight decades.
Have a listen to one of their songs here: