The Bambuco Andes Region
Tiple Mandolin Guitar
The music I chose from the Andes is the Bambuco, my favorite type of Colombian Music.  Even though this music takes elements of native and African origin, the strongest component comes from Spanish traditions.  This can be seen in the way it relies on string instruments.  The typical ensemble is composed by three instruments: The Tiple, which is in charge of rhythmic and harmonic support; the Mandolin, which is usually in charge of the melody and the Guitar, which is usually in charge of the counter melody. The Tiple is a guitar with 12 strings grouped in four groups of three; in each of this groups the middle string is made of nylon and is tuned like one of the 4 highest strings of the guitar; on the other hand, the other two strings are made of metal and are tuned to the same note but an octave higher, this gives the Tiple a very bright sound.  As opposed to the other types of music I have showed you the Bambuco, as you will see, has a more melancholic spirit.  
Rhythmically the Bambuco is a music of great complexity including elements of trinary and compostite rhythms.  Traditionally it was written in a measure of 3/4, but most of modern scholars agree, even though is still debated, that a measure of 6/8 is more appropriate.  Rhythmically is related to the Currulao, the rhythm of the Pacific coast that we talked about before, which is called some times Bambuco Viejo (Old Bambuco).  Once I found a very interesting doctoral thesis about the Bambuco, which you can refer to if you are curious, that has among its conclusions that the most appropriate measure to write Bambuco is one of 12/8.  Following next is a very representative Bambuco played by an ensemble composed of this three instruments.
After listening to an instrumental Bambuco I want to show you another Bambuco of a slightly different color:  In this case we have only Tiple and Guitar, and we exchange the mandolin by a duo that sings in a very particular harmony characteristic of the Andes music of Colombia.  This song touches my soul.  Since is streamed directly from my server, please be patient because sometimes is a little slow.
Finally, to end our trip, I want to show you a Bambuco played by a very unconventional ensemble, a saxophone quintet that gives the Bambuco a very different color, while retaining all the rhythmic and harmonic elements of the Bambuco.
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