Pasillo

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Pasillo (English: corridor) is a genre of indigenous Latin music. It is extremely popular in Ecuador, where it is the "national genre of music." Pasillo as a genre is also present in the mountainous regions of Colombia, Panama and Venezuela, to a lesser extent.

Today, it has incorporated more European features of classical dance, such as a waltz. As it spread during the Gran Chaco period, pasillo also absorbed the individual characteristics of isolated villages. This gives it an eclectic feel; however, the style, tone, and tempo of the music differ in each village.

In its waltz, pasillo alters the classically European dance form to accompany guitar, mandolin, and other string instruments.

[edit] History

Invented in the 19th century, pasillo became closely associated with the South American Wars of Independence and Ecuadorian nationalism.

Pasillo gained in popularity from the recordings of the duet "Ecuador", once performed by Enrique Ibañez Mora and Nicasio Safadi. It reached its apex during the career of Julio Jaramillo.

Since then, pasillo has fallen into disfavor with the new generations. Elements sometimes are present in Latin American rock, but they are impure. The continued existence relies on pasillo's adaptation to accompany rock.

[edit] Composers

• Julio Jaramillo
• Fulgencio García
• Carlos Vieco
• Jorge Villamil
• Enrique Ibañez Mora and Nicasio Safadi (duet)

Sources

• Bethell, Leslie (1998). A Cultural History of Latin America. Cambridge University Press, pp.362. ISBN 0521626269. 
• Vernon, Paul (1995). Ethnic and Vernacular Music. Greenwood Press, pp.253. ISBN 0313295530.