Search - Inti-Illimani :: Antologia IV

A Lush, Emotional Tribute

Mr. Fellini | El Paso, Texas United States | 01/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Victor Jara was the principle figure of the Chilean New Song movement that became especially prominent during the presidency of Salvador Allende. Latin Americans and students of history of course know the rest of the sad dark tale: Allende's government was the first socialist presidency ever elected in the Americas, this of course set off the alarms in Washtington and the Nixon White House supported a violent military coup that overthrew Allende's socialist government and replaced it with the bloody, repressive regime of Augusto Pinochet. The days of social equality and hope were over and a new reign of terror began. One of the first victims of the coup and eventual round-up of all Communist, leftist thinkers was Victor Jara, who was taken to the Chile Stadium along with thousands of prisoners. Jara was beaten, tortured and eventually machine-gunned to death, his body dumped in the outskirts of the city to be found and identified by his wife, British dancer Joan Jara. During these tragic events the Chilean folk music group Inti Illimani were touring Europe and news reached them of the tragedy that fell upon their nation and friend. In the fourth anthology of their work, Inti Illimani pay tribute to Jara by delivering lush, powerful interpretations of his work. Jara fans will be disappointed to not find re-workings of classics such as "A Cuba," "Plegaria A Un Labrador" or "Que Alegres Son Las Obreras," but the chosen material is still strong and reflective of the respect the group had for this giant of Chilean music and the art of the protest song. The opener, "La Partida" is a beautiful dreamy instrumental that takes us to the land of the Andes and Mapuches with it's strings and flutes. This is followed by "El Aparecido," one of Jara's greatest songs, he wrote it as a tribute to revolutionary icon Che Guevara when news reports confirmed that Guevara was leading a guerrilla movement in Bolivia. Here we see Jara's brilliant use of words and images as he uses almost mythic symbols and terms to describe Che's powerful impace on Latin American society. The instrumentals here along with the vocals bring the song wonderously to life with impact and a scope that can only be called epic. Included in the album is an orchestral version of "El Aparecido" that is just as powerful. "Angelita" is another lush song with Andean flutes and poetic images worthy of Violeta Parra. "Canto De Las Estrellas" is a great tribute to Jara, it comes alive with a driving chorus and captures the man's spirit and the resonance of his music. "Las Siete Rejas" allows us to listen to the voice of Jara himself as he sings with Inti Illimani an evocative, atmospheric piece with a ghostly mood. The music of Victor Jara lives on in Chile and in the heart of all true rebels and activists, it reminds us about how art and revolution can be joined together and how great music can also make the loudest statements. Here Inti Illimani are a little cautious and don't sing some of Jara's outright political songs ("Zamba Del Che" for example) but they still produce here a beautiful collection that pays tribute to a great folk figure who in the annals of Latin folk music surely now occupies a place as esteemed as the figures he himself celebrate when he was alive. The tyranny of fascism has fallen in Chile, but the music of Jara remains alive and well. May it live forever."