Like in most places around the world, Sundays tend to be a day to put your feet up and relax* (*or a day to panic and finish everything you have yet to complete during the week.. but thats besides the point..). Here in Valparaiso, its no different. But theres something that differentiates the feeling. Maybe its just being foreign - but theres a majestic roar underneath the cities streets and behind the shadded apartments... music. Its filling the streets, and seaping through the windows of the apartments. I suppose to truly understand the ways in which a culture presents its artwork in various ways you have to understand the roots of expression - what better way to begin than by looking at music. Friday night I went out to a fairly popular seafood restaurant. Something was missing in the atmosphere - it was dead it seemed. The element - music! Think about it; what it adds and means.
Walking from the bottom of Cerro Alegre (a small hill) to the top, I passed vibrant reggaton beats from apartment windows mingled with the calm guitar melodies of people playing in their homes. Music surrounds the city and it is openly expressed throughout the city. In fact just sitting here as I type, marching band-esque sounds pound away in the background from a celebration at an old prison just minutes away. Not the mention the festival of "Mil Tamboures" (1000 Drums) that stretched across the city 2 weeks ago to the Saxaphone players last weekend. The city is bursting with musical escapades with melodies by all different types of musicians. Music seems to be a way of connecting elements. It is a culture of its own and evokes an individual sentiment among the people it touches. Its in our living areas, our work spaces, our means of transportation, the media.. etc. It fills up a space with all of the intangibles. But at the same time it means a little something different to everyone.
Just some things to think about!
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