Alcasami Handmade Peru Store

How to play a zampoña - Lesson 2

2011-04-24T10:27:00.000-05:00

How to Blow a zampoña

How to play a zampoña - lesson 1

2011-04-24T10:25:00.001-05:00

"El condor pasa" in italian

2011-03-10T10:27:00.000-05:00

Nice song played by the beautiful singer Gigliola Cinquetti. It is quite interesting to hear an Italian version of the song "El Condor Pasa". This composition was created by the peruvian musician Alomía Daniel Robles (Huanuco, Peru, 1871 - Lima, 1942).

"El condor pasa" has been interpreted by artists as famous as the duo Simon & Garfunkel, who bought the copyright to some street musicians in London, but years later had to return to the author.

Vlado Urlich - Promotional Video 2011 (English)

2011-03-10T10:00:00.002-05:00

Ancient musical instruments Prehispanic Parte III

2011-03-08T16:13:00.003-05:00

Prehispanic instruments are found in Peru thousands of years old ago and were created by diverse cultures whom expressed through them their way of understanding the world. This video shows exact replicas of a little part of the collection of 2000 instruments sound prehispaníc at National Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology of Peru.

Their uses and functions, and their sound features are still subject of study because of its quantity and complexity.

These images were recorded in the archaeological Mateo Salado (1.100 AC) one of dozens of ceremonial centers in Lima Raised by ancient cultures that inhabited this valley.

This video is presented by Dimi Manga, cultural researcher, he is seen playing a pututo (trumpet made of a snail).

He tells us that we have cultures from 2500 BC, ie from about 4,500 years from now backwards. The first instrument is a flute shows quena type of ceramics from Chincha culture with an age of 1000 to 1500 years. It is a model of a flute entirely replicated chicha that is in the deposits of the National Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, History of Peru.

Then we show a very important tool is the antara pan flute or (Quechua language), currently known as sikus or bagpipe. From the Paracas, Nazca and Moche were created very used and linked to different effervescent rituals and the social life and religious ritual. The size from very small to almost a meter high.

Then introduce a fish-shaped ocarina, with holes in tail, head and spine and some side holes.

We also have replicas of the Moche culture rattles made in ceramics, with ceramic balls inside, have small holes on the sides to let out the sound. There are also geometric and anthropomorphic designs.

There are flutes crafted in animal bone. Many of these animals had a sacred character. The video shows a flute made of bone Suri (antiplane a bird, a sort of South American ostrich). Also shown is a transverse flute made of bone from a Pelican.

It is also used empty deer head, where you blows through the foramen magnum.

We can see the trumpet of Moche ceramics dating from 1500 to 200 years old.

We still have a whistle resembling the song of birds.

Then we see a kind of 4-hole ocarina also simulates the sound of birds and the body of birds.

We can see the whistling bottles. Consisting of two bottles connected by a bridge. When you pour water inside the second bottle began to produce a melody.

Ancient Pre-Inca musical instruments Parte II

2011-03-07T17:32:00.000-05:00

This is a demonstration in Cusco about the ancient pre-Columbian instruments. We can see a bottle that by action of water flowing from one container to another by itself produce a whistle. We can also see a whistle that simulates the sound of a hummingbird. Then we see a tool that simulates the sound of a toad. Then We can see a ocarina Moche with a Owl shape which produces a beautiful melody. Then you can see bone flutes, which can be from deer, llama, alpaca and condor.

In the vidieo the musician playing a beautiful melody with the bone of condor. With the condor feather can make a flapping sound effect. After our Andean musician plays a antroporfoma Trumpet and a amorphous Trumpet and then another. And finally plays a prayer with an ocarina in the form of Puma.

Ancient Chincha Quena

2011-03-07T17:09:00.002-05:00

The Chincha was a small polity on the coast of Peru oriented to living on marine resources, from 1000 to 1476 AC when they were conquered by the Inca. The capital of the Chincha civilization was Tambo de Mora.

They made this beautiful quena flute for play it in religion parties.

This quena is made in ceramic. It was made following the ancient techniques. It is a copy from the original quena located at Peruvian museaum of archeology and anthropology. The clay used in its construction is the clay from the same location used by the ancient people of Chincha. This is to preserve the original sound and the original musical keys.

Meausure: 35 cm (13,79 inches) aprox.

Weight: 250gr ( 0,5 pound) aprox.

Ancient Antara Nazca

2011-03-07T16:56:00.002-05:00

The Nazca culture flourished in the Nazca region between 300 AC and 800 AC. They created the famous Nazca lines and built an impressive system of underground aqueducts that an impressive system of underground aqueducts that still function today.

The Nazca culture is widely known for its fine polychrome ceramics with representations of fruit, animals, human personages, and hybrid beings. The earliest forms and designs of this style reveal a clear continuity with, and similarity to, the Paracas style, whose features go back to the Formative Period.

This ceramic antara was made following the Ancient Nazca techniques. It is a copy from the original antara located at Peruvian Museum of archeology and anthropology.

The Clay used in its construction is the clay from the same location used by the ancient people of Nazca. This is to preserve the original sound and the original musical keys.

Measures: 18 cm x 16 cm aprox. Weight: 250 grams

Ancient Musical instruments Prehispanic Part I

2011-03-07T16:32:00.002-05:00

In our quest to bring the world of our historical legacy, we meet in Lima with beautiful replicas of pre-Columbian musical instruments. The builder, the musician Walter Alfredo Najarro Acasiete (AK7). The original instruments are at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology of Peru. Our surprise was the dedication involved in every replica. The technique for making the instruments was analyzed and well understood. We used the clay from the location which each original piece was made, in order to achieve the same characteristics in appearance and sound.

The sounds are exact replicas of the originals. The ancient peruvian man did not know the musical scale as it exists today. He had his own scale.

To pre-Columbian cultures, the music was an essential part of life, and that was the means of connection to another world, Through its rituals and celebrations.

The National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History of Peru along with the National School of Folkore José María Arguedas have created the project: Waylla Kepa. This is a Project of Scientific Research and Experimental Art that aims to:

- The audiovisual cataloging of 2000 pieces of pre-Hispanic instruments.
- The production of replicas of pre-Hispanic musical instruments.
- Training workshops for music creation and performance for the processing of materials that were tailored prehispanic musical instruments.

Make replicas has lead us to knowledge approach.

In the video we see the musician and replicator of prehispanic musical instruments: Najarro Walter Alfredo Acasiete (AK7).

The preparation of pre-Hispanic instruments:

Preparation of the pieces: The clay is worked through turning in the case of percussion pieces of clay, and Nazca drums. It chooses a good clay zone (Ica) for its hardness and its sound.

Through the empty liquid clay into plaster cast for the Antara. X-rays were taken of original antaras in which the structure of the instrument shows that have used liquid clay.

Pipe by Pipe Tuning: After obtaining the tubes through the mold is made the pitch of the instrument according to the scale of the original. Given Reducers clay, where there is a 40-variacón centiftonos between the pre-cooking and postcocción.

The union of the tubes in antaras is performed with liquid clay, which acts as acoplameinto material between the pipe and tube.

Through modeling, the piece is made by hand and shovel technique giving the required shape. In the event that the piece is made in sections, the union of the parts is done having a uniform moisture of the clay.

The union of the tubes is performed with the antara liquid clay, which acts as coupling material between the pipe and tube.

For making whistling bottles, which uses modeling and palette. X-ray support allows to know the method of construction of the whistle.

When the piece is in a state of leather coating is applied, a liquid clay with minerals that grant occidantes color to the instrument. As the finish is brushed, rubbed smooth with a color instrument, which gives adhesion and gloss.

In the case of monochrome parts black, the color is created by lack of oxygen during cooking, do not slip. This was done once in a clay oven without a chimney outlet. In the north is used manure from poultry or mango leaves to achieve this effect.

The firing of the pieces is done in an electric furnace up to 1000 degrees centigrade, however ancestralment utilizagan wood stoves are, with the temperature between 500 to 600 degrees centigrade.

Original and replicas:
- In the video we can see: Drum ceramics, Nazca culture from 100 to 700 A.C. Original left, right replica.
- Antara fourteen ceramic tubes, 100-700 A.C. Nazca A.C. Original Top, Right replica.
- Quena ceramic, 1100-1400 A.C. Chincha culture Original Top, Right replica.
- Replica trumpet in zig-zag of ceramics. Moche 100 to 700 A.C. Orignal Up, Right replica.
- Replica of Moche pututos 100-700 A.C.
- Replica Bottle Whistle Inca 1100-1500 A.C.
- Replica Bottle Moche whistle 100-700 A.C.
- Whistle Inca bottle Repliac 1100 - 1500 A.C.
- Replica of ceramic Quena, Culture Chinca 1100-1400 A.C.
- Double Flute or Bagpipes. Cajamarca pottery, traditional.
- Ocarina today.

Using techniques of manufacture of the pieces also restores the instruments and their instegridad reconstituting fragmented aesthetic and sound.

This materal was provided by Alfred Walter Najar Acasiete (AK7)
The background music is a sound created by AK7 dedicated to his daughter.
The video and the music has copyrights as their reproduction prohibited without the authorization of the author.

How to untie a pan flute (zampoña)

2011-02-27T09:31:00.001-05:00

How to tie a pan flute (zampoña)

2011-02-27T09:28:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T11:10:00.001-05:00

New Year Countdown

Merry Christmas

2010-11-30T22:49:00.000-05:00

Glitter Graphics Generator

Christmas Countdown

Vlado Urlich plays Atipanacuy

2010-11-16T15:07:00.004-05:00

Vlado Urlich Quartet in Třemošnice - Rondo alla Turca

2010-11-16T15:07:00.003-05:00

Vlado Urlich Quartet in Karlovy Vary - Czardas

2010-11-16T15:06:00.001-05:00

Chacon Brothers (Road of llamas and El Condor pasa)

2009-07-22T21:08:00.007-05:00

Peruvian musicians playing two beautiful tunes.

How to tune a quena

2009-02-28T17:07:00.012-05:00

Talking to our friend, musician and maker of wind instruments, José Chacón. He explained us how to tune a quena, the first thing to do is a hole in the bottom end of the quena. It should expand and refine the hole to achieve the note pitch. If quena we are making is in the scale of SOL, to make this hole should give us the note SOL. Master Chacón uses to tune quenas a diapason. Then he proceed to open the second hole. This hole is the first hole near the bottom hole of the quena. We have to tune it until we reached to the note LA. And so, we continue with the other holes from the bottom to the top, Si, Do, Re, Mi, Fa #, and finally the thumb hole, Sol Some tips from our friend Chacón for the care of our quena are: be sure to dry before storing. Avoid putting in extremely hot, no place in the sun, it can crack the quena. we should keep our quena in a case to avoid damage and lose pitch. Also this will prevent the dust from quena, which can be sucked at playing quena. In cold weather, the pitch of quena will be a little lower. It is advised that accompanying zampoñas and antaras are also a slightly lower tone. Here we can see Master José Chacón playing a quena tuned in FA.

Cusco School. Colonial Paintings with 24 karat Gold

2009-02-23T21:42:00.006-05:00

The Cuzco school is characterized by being original and its great artistic value. Began in the city of Cusco, Peru.

It is a fusion of European art and artistic expression of the mestizos and Indians to incorporate their vision of the world.

This school begins during the Viceroyalty of Peru with a predominantly European style but the participation of Indian and mestizo painters by the end of the seventeenth century, makes the Cuzco school to take its own characteristics. This painting is called "Cusco School", because it was by made hands of local artists, and especially because it distances itself from the influence of prevailing currents in European art and follows his own path.

This art of Cuzco , in the thematic issues of interest in local customs, such as the procession of Corpus Christi, and the presence for the first time of the Andean flora and fauna. Also, a series of portraits of Indians and caciques of heraldic and genealogical tables. With regard to technical, there is a misunderstanding of the perspective with a fragmentation of space in multiple concurrent places or compartmentalized scenes. New solutions to the color era, with the preference for the colors are another typical feature of this painting style.

In our store we have reproductions of paintings from the Cuzco school made in gold leaf. The technique of gold leaf is the application of pieces of 24 karat gold on the image of the painting.

We have themes such as the virgin milk, virgin tenderness, the virgin of the spoon, Santa Rosa de Lima and many more.

How to play a quena

2009-02-13T01:04:00.005-05:00

To beginners who want to know how to play the quena. Here we get some videos made by Master Sergio Cuadros "Checho", where this excellent Peruvian musician gives us some tricks.

Links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gPAvsbbqeo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI760pYJdpM&feature=related

Alcasami Professional Quenas

2009-02-09T00:36:00.003-05:00

Dear customers, this movie shows some quenas which we sell.

Vlado Urlich, an amazing flute player

2009-02-01T22:24:00.004-05:00

ABOUT VLADO Vlado Urlich Espinoza was born in Lima, Peru, in May 1976. He showed his deep interest in music at an early age; however, it wasn’t until the age of 12 when he had his first formal contact with music. He started playing the trumpet in the school band and taking music lessons as well. Even though he demonstrated tremendous potential on the interpretation of other wind instruments, he became fascinated by the magical sound of the “Quena” (Inca flute). It was then when he made the decision to dedicate his life to the study and difussion of this instrument. In 1992, Vlado starts to play the “quena” in a Folk-Fusion group called “Kuntur Wasi” and it is here where he grows musically as a player of other wind instruments such as sikus, quenachos, tarkas and others like charango and native drums. At the age of 17, he enters the National Conservatory of Music in Lima where he takes lessons on harmony, counterpoint and piano. At the same time, he studies composition with Walter Casas and Francisco Pulgar Vidal, well-known peruvian composers. In 1997, he becomes the main quenist in the group YAWAR, which is one of the most popular folk groups in Peru. After that, he had the chance to perform in different cities in Peru and to attend music festivals in countries such as Denmark, Germany, Spain, Morocco, and Portugal among others. In 2001, he decides to move to Spain and start his career as a soloist. He performs in different festivals and records with several groups. In 2004. Vlado presents “Queneando”, a project he had been working on for a long time . Here, he demonstrates a high level of virtuosity on the instrument and a deep understanding of the qualities and posibilities of the quena. He shows his capability to perform a wide range of styles due to his everlasting concern on the investigation and development of the quena and his work as a composer and performer. Vlado has always been characterized by a high level of musicality and a wonderful interpretation of his instrument. Moreover, his sensitivy and his warm personality makes his sound unique and pleases anyone who hears it. He definitely makes the instrument a part of himself. Nowadays, he is putting together his own private studio where he prepares his first cd as a soloist "Los Cuentos del Camino" and , this way, he tries to accomplish one of his main goals: to use his music as a vehicle for transmitting culture and peace to this world.

Link:www.vladourlich.com/

Huanca quenas

2009-02-01T00:52:00.002-05:00

Let us introduce you to Urban Huanca. He is a renowned manufacturer of quena and another andean music instruments. He and his family are from Puno and they live in Lima, Peru. The manufacturing technique of andean music instruments is a family legacy, and it is learned from generation to generation.

The initiation of manufacturing begins with the acquisition of wood and bamboo canes from various locations in the Amazon Jungle.

The canes should be dried, and washed and as the wood is subjected to a treatment that can keep the tune of quenas regardless of environmental changes. This entire proceeding takes 15 to 20 days. To tune one quena takes about 6 hours and were conducted by using an electronic instrument.

Our products

2009-01-31T00:03:00.002-05:00

We offer to the world many items made by hand:

Sterling Silver jewelry, semiprecious jewelry, paintings of the Cuzco school, Musical Instruments, Andean Chulucanas ceramics, home furnishings, carpets, ornaments, alpaca clothing, etc.

Vision

2009-01-30T23:16:00.003-05:00

To achieve that Peru is recognized throughout the world as a producing country of crafts of great quality that transmit the conservationist spirit of the ecology of its forebears elaborating products on the basis of natural inputs.

Mission

2009-01-30T23:12:00.002-05:00

To broadcast to worldwide the richness of the Peruvian culture through the hands of our artisans in differents states of Peru, with the highest quality.

About us

2009-01-30T23:07:00.003-05:00

We are a Peruvian company dedicated to promote the crafts which are made in different states of our country, keeping ancient techniques inherited from a rich culture, Inca Empire, and using natural fibers, natural inks and other natural material that it let us to market a high quality ecological product.