Harawi (genre)

Harawi, in Bolivia jarawi or arawi (Quechua for poem, poetry,^[1] hispanicized spellings haravi, jaravi), is an ancient traditional genre of Andean Music and also indigenous lyric poetry. Harawi was widespread in the Inca Empire and now is especially common in countries that were part of it: Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, partially Chile and Argentina. Typically, harawi is a moody, soulful slow and melodic song or tune played on the quena (flute). The words of harawi speak of love (often unrequited), plight of ordinary peasant, privations of orphans, etc. Melodies are mainly in minor pentatonic scale.

History

First recorded harawi lyrics related to the Inca era. Some of the extant songs may also have the same age. Later harawi became the basis for mestizo genre yaravi.

"Harawi language"

In Andean villages, there is still a tradition: a guy, in love with a girl, expresses his feelings by playing one of many well-known harawis on the flute not far from her house . She recognizes the melody and remembers words of this song to understand what kind of feelings does a guy experience.

References