Coquimbo Philharmonic Foundation Concert

Coquimbo Philharmonic Foundation Concert

• Casa de las Rural de la Cantera, La Cantera 1951, Coquimbo.
• Saturday, September 13 – 3:00 p.m..

The Coquimbo Philharmonic Foundation prepares a special concert in which all its infant-juvenile casts will interpret Chilean folk repertoire in orchestral format, thanks to the financing of the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage through its support program for collaborating cultural organizations.

In the event, the Coquimbo Philharmonic Foundation will take a new significant step in its training mission, integrating to academic musical education the sound roots of Chile in a concert of orchestrated folk music, an initiative that has the financing of the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage through its support program for collaborating cultural organizations.

Folklore in orchestra

The decision to include this repertoire responds to a deep conviction: that learned music and popular music are not separate paths, but expressions that enrich each other.

This is explained by Danny Cortés, director of the Intermediate Philharmonic Municipal Orchestra: “Classical music is universal, but folklore is our root, our identity. We want children, in addition to connecting with Bach or Mozart, also connect with Violeta Parra or with a cueca of their own land.”

The adaptation work, says Cortés, is an artisanal process: selecting works that can be orchestrated without losing their essence, writing specific scores for each instrument and accompanying students in the understanding of rhythms and cadences of folklore, often away from academic stiffness.

The enthusiasm of learning from the familiar

The student’s reaction has been immediate and enthusiastic. Recognizing melodies heard at home, at parties or in community celebrations generates a powerful affective connection. “It is exciting to see how their eyes light when they recognize the melodies. They associate it with something close and are proud to be able to interpret the music of their land on stage,” says Cortés.

Something similar highlights America Baeza, a philharmonic seed teacher, who observes how children not only learn music, but also embody it:

“Folklore is the maternal musical language of each culture. They enjoy it because they are familiar, they share their memories, they create choreographies, sing and express themselves creatively. This strengthens their individual, group and national identity.”

An experience that forms and excites

In the Initial Philharmonic Municipal Band, where students still learn the basics of musical notation, preparation has meant a challenge, and at the same time, an opportunity. Gerson Pieotti, director of the initial band, comments that, although for them reading scores is still a challenge, “folk music is so well known that they play it naturally. That gives them confidence, allows them to advance technically and, above all, improves their self -esteem.”

In addition, PieroTti emphasizes that this work is also a citizen contribution.

“To execute music that is part of their daily lives and their culture not only educates them musically, it also helps them to understand themselves as part of a community and a country. It is a huge contribution to human development,” he says.

Beyond the technique: identity and community

The preparation of the works has required weeks of essays, patience and commitment, both of the students and their families and teachers.

Daniel Muñoz, director of the Intermediate Philharmonic Municipal Band, explains that motivation is key: “The mere fact that they attend every Saturday, at nine in the morning, already shows that they want to learn. They are developing discipline, concentration and joy around music.”

Muñoz adds that the integration of folklore occurs naturally, because rhythms and melodies are part of collective memory. “When we play tamarugal queen or fragments of the Santa María Cantata, students feel that music belongs to them. They even bring their own folk instruments, such as charangos or quenas, and that enriches the work of the band a lot,” he says.

A concert with Chile flavor

The result of this preparation will be lived on Saturday, September 13, in a concert in which the casts of the Coquimbo Philharmonic Foundation will unite the symphonic language with the sounds of Chilean folklore. It will be an instance to celebrate the music, identity and effort of dozens of girls, boys and young people who have found in art a growth space.

As Danny Cortés summarizes: “A violin can cry a tune, a trumpet can play a cueca. In the background, our children become ambassadors of our music. That makes them grow as musicians and as Chilean and Chilean.”

The Coquimbo Philharmonic Foundation is part of the Collaborating Cultural Organizations Support Program of the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage, Government of Chile.