Vallenato: From the Valley's of Colombia to the Grammys

Vallenato, (litrerally translated "Born in the Valley") along with Cumbia is one of the most popular of Colombian dance and music, so much so, that in 2006, Vallenato has been added as a chategory to the Grammy Awards.

This form of music originated from farmers who, keeping a tradition of Spanish minstrels (Juglares in Spanish), mixed also with the West African-inherited tradition of griots (African version of juglar), who used to travel through the region with their cattle in search of pastures or to sell them in cattle fairs. Because they traveled from town to town and the region lacked rapid communications, these farmers served as bearers of news for families living in other towns or villages. Their only form of entertainment during these trips was singing and playing guitars or indigenous gaita flutes, known as kuisis in the Kogi language, and their form of transmitting their news was by singing their messages.




The first form of vallenato was played with gaita flutes, guacharaca, and caja, and later adopted other instruments like guitars. These troubadors were later influenced by Europe's instruments: piano and accordion. Shocked with the sound from the accordion, troubadors probably obtained later on accordions from Aruba and Curaçao. Vallenato was considered music of the lower class and farmers, but gradually started penetrating through every social group during the mid-20th century.



Don Clemente Quintero—a prominent member from the region's elite—was a lover of this music, usually accompanied by liquor, was a form of entertainment for this almost isolated region. He then decided to start a parranda (party) inside the very strict Valledupar Social Club with friends. This triggered an acceptance for the music and it became a regular feature at parties, carnivals and reunions, not for dancing, but for listening to these juglares stories[citation needed].



Alfonso López Michelsen, a prominent Colombian politician, showed interest in the region as his ancestors and wife were born there. While a Senator, he pushed for the creation of the Department of Cesar and became, in 1966, its first governor. Once in office and together with writer and reporter Consuelo Araújo Noguera and vallenato composer Rafael Escalona, they created the Vallenato Legend Festival.



During one of the early versions of this festival, Daniel Samper, an influent cachaco (denomination given in northern Colombia to people from Bogotá) journalist, started dancing vallenato with his wife. Such practice was not common and generally not accepted by local vallenato followers, but later it became a tradition that spread to parties, concerts, and nightclubs[dubious – discuss]. Today, Colombians commonly dance along to vallenato, and newer compositions have become more rhythmical and hence more suitable for dancing.
(wikipedia)







Featured during opening night  (September 2nd) this year at Vancouver Latin Film Festival, Los Viajes Del Viento, (The Wind Travels ) a film by director Cio Guerra features traditional vallenato music by Ivan Ocampo.