''Pirekua'' (
Purépecha
The Purépecha (endonym pua, P'urhepecha ) are a group of indigenous people centered in the northwestern region of Michoacán, Mexico, mainly in the area of the cities of Cherán and Pátzcuaro.
They are also known by the pejorative "Tarascan ...
) is a
song form of the
Purépecha
The Purépecha (endonym pua, P'urhepecha ) are a group of indigenous people centered in the northwestern region of Michoacán, Mexico, mainly in the area of the cities of Cherán and Pátzcuaro.
They are also known by the pejorative "Tarascan ...
(Michoacán, Mexico). The singer of a ''pirekua'', a ''pirériecha'', may be male or female, solo or accompanied, and ''pirekua'' may be performed instrumentally. ''Pirériechas'' act as social mediators and "express sentiments and communicate events of importance to the Purépecha communities."
[Intangible Cultural Heritage:]
Pirekua, traditional song of the P’urhépecha
, ''UNESCO.org''.
''Pirekua'' ensembles usually include, "two or three
guitars, strings and winds,
nda small
brass band, or
'pirériecha'' areunaccompanied."
Performed with "a gentle rhythm," generally in ''sones'' (
time) or ''abajeños'' (
time), the genre combines African, European, and indigenous American influences.
''Pirekua'' is related to the
son and the
waltz, and
Henrietta Yurchenco
Henrietta Yurchenco (born Henrietta Weiss, March 22, 1916 – December 10, 2007) was an American ethnomusicologist, folklorist, radio producer, and radio host. She worked to save traditional music by recording in Guatemala, Mexico, the United State ...
points out that both the ''son'' and ''pirekua'' are in a slow
triple meter, performed as
duets, featuring
rhythmic sequence
In music, a sequence is the restatement of a motif or longer melodic (or harmonic) passage at a higher or lower pitch in the same voice.Benward and Saker (2003). ''Music: In Theory and Practice, Vol. I'', p.111-12. Seventh Edition. . It is o ...
against fixed patterns in the
accompaniment
Accompaniment is the musical part which provides the rhythmic and/or harmonic support for the melody or main themes of a song or instrumental piece. There are many different styles and types of accompaniment in different genres and styles ...
, and using two to three chords (
I-IV-V) in
major
Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
or
minor
Minor may refer to:
* Minor (law), a person under the age of certain legal activities.
** A person who has not reached the age of majority
* Academic minor, a secondary field of study in undergraduate education
Music theory
*Minor chord
** Barb ...
with little
modulation
In electronics and telecommunications, modulation is the process of varying one or more properties of a periodic waveform, called the ''carrier signal'', with a separate signal called the ''modulation signal'' that typically contains informatio ...
.
[Chamorro, Arturo (1998). "Purépecha (Tarascan)", ''The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: Southeast Asia'', p.579. Taylor & Francis. .]
The subjects of ''pirekua''
lyrics range, "from historical events to religion, social and political thought and love and courtship, making extensive use of symbolism."
Lyrics make frequent use of flowers as symbols of femininity, passion, and local identity.
[Chamorro (1998), p.580.] While ''sones'' are usually sung in Spanish, ''pirekua'' are usually sung in Purépecha, and while ''sones'' tends toward everyday life, ''pirekua'' tend more towards poetic expressions of the Purépecha world view.
See also
*
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists
References
External links
*Media services:
Pirekua, traditional song of the P’urhépecha, ''UNESCO.org''.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pirekua
Indigenous culture of Mexico
Regional styles of Mexican music
Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
Mexican styles of music
Purépecha people