| As with any city, part of what makes Cuenca what it is is the people. Here is a small taste of the lives of Cuencanos. |
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Marcela, the light of Cuenca. |
| A contemplative gentleman enjoying a day in the park. |
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Fruit and vegetable vendors in one of the local mercados. |
| Washing machines are a luxury in these parts. Most people handwash their laundry in an outdoor sink, while some still use the age-old method of washing clothes in the natural water supply of the river. |
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Grupo Fusión, with members from Peru and Bolivia, in concert at Mama Kinua's. They incorporate time-honored Andean instruments to create a dense, swooshing modern take on traditional Incan rhythms. |
The Instruments (left to right):
- Standard Classical Guitar
- Charango - a small 10-string instrument, originally made out of an armadillo's shell, though now made of wood as well
- Siku - these panpipes come in a number of different sizes, varying from 4 inches to 5 feet in length, and are arranged in two rows of cane tubes
- Quena/Quenacho - 7-holed flute made of wood, cane, and bones; the quena is the shorter, higher pitched of the two
- Bombo Drum - the oldest Andean instrument, made of wood and stretched goat skin, producing a very deep bass sound
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Between each song, the members switch positions on stage, and alternate instruments as well depending on the song. The instruments are not limited to the ones listed above. Sometimes they incorporate a wooden drum box, a harmonica, a rain stick, or no instruments at all. They make lively music, which inspired an impromptu dancefloor to pop up in the small, crowded room. |
My good friend Kike, the lead singer of Grupo Fusión and aspiring solo artist, in one of several sit down jam sessions I had with him.
During this particular session, I learned some basic techniques on the quena flute by the man on the right side of the photo above. Afterwards, the two of us played John Lennon's "Imagine," with me on guitar and him playing the vocals on the quena. It was one of the greatest highlights of my life playing music.
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