I have to share with you my favourite song from the Andes: Malacum Wawapa by LLajtasuyo.
I first heard this song live in a small pizza joint in Cusco by a talented Peruvian 4-some that travelled from restaurant to restaurant entertaining the tourists. It took forever to track down this song, well over a year in fact. I didn’t know the title or the original artist, nor even any of the lyrics, since its a combination of Spanish and Quechua. All I had was a choppy video to remind myself how the catchy ditty went. The other day I decided to hunt through iTunes for it, searching for music of the Andes, and viola! I found it with in 15 minutes.
This video is a live version by the original artist, Kalamarka, from Bolivia:
I love this song because of the way the flutes battle each other in some sort of beautiful dance, which mirrors the lyrics, from what I could track down. With the dancing flutes being metaphoric for the wind dancing with the beautiful maiden’s skirt as she dances. I translated the Spanish parts, but not the Quechua. Please forgive me for any mis-translations.
Malacum Wawapa (Spanish/Quechua)
En mis sueños he visto bailar En Achacachi Una linda suma imilla Flor Azucena Mantapasti Pank'ajama Muythatapasti Jawirjam jalir imilla Malacum Wawapa Su pollera que mandaba Como viento que bailaba El bailar de su pollera Ritmo de mi bombo... bis En la fiesta de mi pueblo En Achacachi Hay una luz como estrella Testigo de mi amor Uñcatasipaw K'ajjtaski Chuym Lunthattu Uca laycukiw jachtastua Malacum Wawapa Su Pollera que mandaba Como viento que bailaba El Bailar de su pollera Al ritmo de mi bombo...bis |
Malacum Wawapa (English/Quechua)
In my dreams I've seen dancing In Achacachi A beautiful maiden Flor Azucena Pank'ajama Mantapasti Muythatapasti Jalir Jawirjam imilla Malacum Wawapa Her skirt is commanding As the wind dances The dance of her skirt Rhythm of my drum ... bis At the party of my people In Achacachi There is a light like a star Witness my love K'ajjtaski Uñcatasipaw Lunthattu Chuyma Uca laycukiw jachtastua Malacum Wawapa Her skirt is commanding As wind dancing The Dance of her skirt The rhythm of my drum ... a |
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