The University of Texas South American Music Ensemble is dedicated to performing music in various styles from a number of countries, with a primary focus on Brazil and the Andean region. It is mostly comprised of graduate and undergraduate students. While many are enrolled within the School of Music, it also welcomes non-majors and community members interested in gaining firsthand experience with the repertoires performed. From semester to semester the pieces chosen vary substantially, and may range from pan flute styles of Andean Bolivia to Colombian bambuco, and from Rio’s sophisticated bossa nova to the samba-reggae rhythms of Salvador da Bahia. Students have the opportunity to play a variety of instruments, including those unique to the region. These may include quena (an Andean notch flute), charango (a small Andean guitar variant), cajón (the central percussion instrument in Afro-Peruvian music), surdo (a large bass drum used in Brazilian samba parades, cavaquinho (a small 4 stringed Brazilian guitar), and various other percussive and melodic instruments. Many of the pieces also require standard instruments, such as guitar, strings, bass, and piano. Songs are performed in Spanish, Portuguese, Quechua, and Aymara. No firsthand knowledge of the languages or musics represented in the ensemble’s repertoire is required. Meetings take place once a week, from 7-10 PM on Tuesdays.

Repertoire

This semester, the music performed by the ensemble includes:

• Pan flute music from Bolivia and Peru, Peruvian huayno music from Cajamarca and Ayacucho, marinera ayacuchana, and Afro-Peruvian.
• Bossa nova, samba, and samba-reggae.

Rehearsals

Rehearsals are divided in two, in order to devote equal time to the ensemble’s two core repertoires. In the first hour and a half (7-8:30PM), the focus is on Andean pieces, while the second (8:30-10PM) is focused on Brazilian music. Occasionally, sectional rehearsals or private instruction are also scheduled as needed.