Who we
are: "Friends of the Andes"
A
personal message from Ernesto Pomareda and the Friends of the Andes
Dear
colleagues, friends and relatives,
Why are
we were called "Friends of the Andes"? Basically this concept of
"Andean Group" in the classical definition of the idea, is an
abstract organization to which it's denomination almost always is associated
with an abstract name that somebody or someone decides to give it, in the case
of the Andean groups usually in Spanish, Quechua, Aymara or some other language
belonging to INDOAMERICAN culture, this with the purpose of identifying it's
members with a compatible idea, that is the one to produce music based on the
indigenous tradition of our Andean peoples.
Most
importantly this group has to work on the context of an "AYLLU" or
community and the members should to fit their ideals for a common well being.
Now
"Friends of the Andes" are many musicians that integrate other
musical associations, other groups or simply they are soloists, but when joined
with me they belong to the concept of "Friends of the Andes " they
are not necessarily of Latin or Andean origins but mainly must share a common
musical ideal and work within a frame of friendship, honesty and discipline,
the money comes as a derivative of the performances that we offer to the public
in the form of voluntary donations, gifts, tips and contributions.
As
"Friends of the Andes" our favorite presentations have always been
those in which we performed mainly for children, or in the schools, festivals
or outdoors.
Our
public deserves all our love and respect.
I
believe that all the enthusiasm, love and happiness that people show us is the
living reflection of what we offer to them on stage.
The
group now is in a process of commercial adaptation, We just signed a contract
with the Soundthreads.com distributor, and surely we are going to have more
publicity.
We
would love to see our ideals of many years come true, I feel that there is
something that can be obtained, I now think that we are going to gain the
Support we need in order to begin recording our own compositions and to
encourage all the musicians that integrate " Friends of the Andes "
to create.
I have
individually written several compositions, two versions of Andean Christmas,
one in the titled CD " Holiday Music " and another one in a video
that records for the Catholic Church, in addition to a song titled
"Arbol", which exposes the Renaissance of the indigenous race in
Peru, there also exist recordings done for the BBC consisting of arrangements
for Sikuris and a documentary factoid musical done for the "World Health
Organization" with joint creations with Alfredo Velazquez and Luis Opazo
of the group Via Brazil.
I have
an unfinished disc as a soloist that contains 5 compositions of mine (mainly
Ballads in jazz-Andean style) which are in the process of being completed by
the end of the winter 2000 and two discs of compilations made during years 1990
and 1998 under the Name of " Friends of the Andes " with the
collaboration of several friends who have recorded with me through out the
years.
I would
like to mention my colleagues, brothers of the core during most of my musical
life who have fought by my side for many years: Miguel V. Sisniegas, J. Alfredo
Velazquez, Luis Opazo, Czech Fernando, William Sepulveda, Omar Sepulveda, To
Patricio and Marcelo Morales, Milo Batista and Rogelio Rangel.
I
believe that it is a good thing to spread our music in mp3'formats in the
internet, all musicians in others categories are doing it.
There
are many musicians that get to be known this way, in spite of the tiny amount
of folklorists compared to the great number of other existing genres in mp3's,
I have been able to observe that almost always the folklorists maintain a good
" rating " within the genres Latino and South American, staying
within high rankings of audiences and for the longest possible time.
In the
case of "Friends of the Andes" with it's Christmas hit "Silent
Night" lasting over 4 weeks in number one of ratings and audience support
during the month of December of 1999.
We
share in common a friendly feeling for our Andean community throughout the
world.
Always
at the vanguard of free expression and in putting within reach of all the
peoples of the world the beauty and feeling of our music, and that despite the
empirical necessity to make a living by exploiting our talents, this activity
of volunteer musicianship always serves like an embassy of good will and
friendship to all human beings who have contact with us.
Good
Dear friends here I take leave of you, receive a great greeting from "
Ernesto Pomareda and "The Friends of the Andes" and continue working
for our culture, by our families and by everything what we are pleased to
believe in which is dear to our hearts, and know that if you come by, you a
friend in Monterey.
Ernesto
Pomareda
Director
"Friends of the Andes"