MUSC 115 Ecuadorian Music

While on the Global Environmental Challenges program in Cuenca, Ecuador (Fall Study Abroad program), students in this course will explore the musical diversity of Ecuador and the various musical traditions from the Andean, Amazonian, and coastal regions, using auditory examples and discussions on the cultural and geographical diversity of the country. Learn to analyze the historical evolution of Ecuadorian music by presenting a historical overview of our music from pre-Columbian times to the present, highlighting Indigenous, African, and European influences, as well as the most significant social and political movements. Students will be exposed to contemporary genres and styles most representative of Ecuador, such as pasillo, albazo, bomba, and technocumbia, through musical examples and discussions on their impact on Ecuadorian popular culture. Answer the questions: What is the role of music in contemporary Ecuadorian society, considering the relationship between Ecuadorian music and contemporary social, economic, and political issues? What does music have to do with national identity, globalization, and the preservation of cultural traditions? Finally, understand the musical landscape in Ecuador through practical workshops, where Ecuadorian musical pieces will be examined in terms of structure, lyrics, and cultural context, along with their historical and contemporary significance.