Understanding Bolivian Folk Music Prior to Your Arrival

Bolivia’s roots in the Andes remain intact perhaps more than any other nation that calls the mountain range home.

And with this deep understanding of its mountains and subsequent isolation by simply being born on one side of a peak not easily traversed comes a wealth of folk music devoted to a single valley.

Music is omnipresent in Bolivia and weaves it way through all aspects of life from baptism to funeral and all celebrations in between.

Not only is it about music, but also the traditional twirling dances seen in abundance accompanying even a makeshift neighborhood band. While the music of Bolivia varies tremendously by region, the love of music and dance is unwavering no matter where you are traveling.

Bolivian music essentially revolves around panpipes or bamboo tubes tied together to make a wind instrument. Additionally, the Quenas accompany this sound with a simple, more traditional bamboo flute. The Bolivian guitar, or charango, is a 12-stringed instrument often made out of an armadillo shell and provides a steady rhythm throughout the song whether a celebratory one or a dirge.

The caporal, tinku, cueca, cumbia and the saya are traditional dances in the west of the country which celebrates its Andean roots with the telling of legends held deep in the hearts and minds of the Aymara, Quechua and Tiahuanacota people.

The east of the country, which is dominated by the Amazon, changes the tone of the music to a more lively style influenced by Amazonian tribes. Strangely, Jesuit missionaries brought classically baroque leanings to the music which often adds a violin to the end.

Somewhat ironically, it was, perhaps, Simon & Garfunkel that brought the most attention to the music of Bolivia when they translated and performed the song “El Cóndor Pasa” into English, sparking a wave of contemporary Bolivian music with such bands as Los Jairas, Wara, Savia Andina, Los K’jarkas and Grupo Aymara, among others.

For a fantastic sampling of different types of Bolivian folk music, you need look no further than YouTube.