Music of the Americas: Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile

La Peregrina is a Chilean band whose musical and artistic work is inspired by the cultural diversity of Latin America, its landscapes, and the richness of the stories, rituals, and contexts that interweave its mestizo identity. 

"Riqueza" is a waltz by lead singer Isidora Yávar created as a reflection on where we place the value of things, during times when "value" usually has a purely monetary meaning. It honors the fundamental good fortune of being able to dedicate time to our loved ones and to nature.

Wednesday, February 5, 10 am

Chilean composer and singer Adolfo Jorquera is back on En Casa alongside Ricardo Morales Navia as Dúo Cuarzo Lican. The duo was formed one night in 2023 at the foot of Cerro Minillas, just east of Santiago. To the sound of crickets, this duo creates music with a Latin American identity, bringing together instruments such as the electric bass, Chilean guitarrón, rebec, rondador, and Andean harp in original compositions that capture stories, dreams, and mysteries of the soul. 

From Santiago, they sent us this version of Jorquera's "Romance del chaski." The composer writes about the piece: "The voices of two amazingly complementary instruments rise to the wind: the electric bass and the rebec. The rhythm is born from the ancient sajuriana, which, together with the lyrics adapted to the classic structure of the romance, merge story and evocation: the arrival of the Chaski to the valleys of Chili, announcing to the chiefs allied to the Inka the arrival of strange visitors who are intent on stealing the titles of power kept in the memory of the Native lineage."

Thursday, February 6, 10 am 

Bolivian wind instrument player Carla Derpic and guitarist Mauricio Copa are back with "Octubre," a instrumental cueca composed during the annual Sagarnaga festival in western France by Charles Giron, a French musician and great interpreter of Bolivian music. This song is dedicated to his parents, who were born in the month of October.

Friday, February 7, 10 am 

Argentine guitarist, arranger, composer and producer Leonardo Andersen was born in Buenos Aires in 1992. Since his professional start at age 14, he has obtained numerous distinctions and collaborated with the most prestigious artists of the Argentine music scene on live performances and recordings while leading an active solo and ensemble career. 

From Italy, he sent us "Mbarigüi," a polka born from inspiration that arose on a tour through northeastern Argentina alongside Chilean flamenco master Carlos Ledermann, to whom the work is dedicated. It fuses the colors of the sonic landscape of the jungle in the Misiones province with hints of flamenco. 

The MetLife Foundation Music of the Americas concert series is made possible by the generous support of Presenting Sponsor MetLife Foundation.

The 2024-2025 series is also supported, in part, by the Howard Gilman Foundation, Augustine Foundation, Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, Mex-Am Cultural Foundation, Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, and Mid Atlantic Arts.