Critical Reviews

I'm still waiting on one article from the ILL, and am translating several article from Spanish. This is where I am now.

Aquiii Cosquiiin
This article published in Americas, is a sort of transect of the Cosquin music festival, with some history mixed in. Some new revelations were the sort of “scouting” of new folk music talent. Those discovered compete in pre-Cosquin, for slots on the main bill. The author also described many of the cultural offerings of the festival- handmade instruments, mate mugs, and the like being sold throughout; massive barbecue pits filled with beef, spontaneous dancing, peñas musical gatherings), etc. Ultimately, this is proof that Cosquin, for those nine days, is Argentina in one town- every aspect of the culture is present and celebrated.
(I’ll also cite the article for some of the facts and figures it included when I write a bit about the history of Cosquin.)
Source: ¡AQUÍÍÍ, COSQUÍÍJN!
Text and photographs by Dennis Jones
Published in Americas

This article, which I attempted to read in Spanish, talks especially about some of the symbolism at Cosquin. It starts by saying that symbols like these are often resurrected as pieces of nostalgia, after falling victim to industrialization and the associated loss of culture. One symbol mentioned is a trophy given to those who’ve made significant contributions to folklore. The story behind the statues model has a strong anti-Spanish bent. Other symbols include the white ponchos seen on stage and in the official logo, and a song sung before each night. The song and associated performance includes many cultural symbols, and is followed by a cheer: “Here, Cosquin, the Capital of Folklore.” The “himno” is religious, but the author references others who say that tourism is like a secular pilgrimage, and that you can’t have (religious) pilgrimages without music. Above all, the music, the symbols, and the festival itself is a means of continuing the people’s relationship with their culture.
El Festival Nacional de Folklore y La Busqueda de Identidad Nacional Argentina
Jane Florine
Anais do V Congresso Latinoamericano da Associacao Internacional para o Estudo da Musica Popular

I tried reading through a number of Rolling Stone articles about Cosquin, thinking that I could compile some conclusions, most likely from passing comments. One article talked about a rock-type band, Divididos, playing at Cosquin. The band themselves are very open about their folk influences, and opened their performance at Cosquin with an acoustic set consisting of traditional folk songs. They then played a late-night electric set. At the end of it, wearing the traiditional ponchos, they said “Cosquin, thank you for accepting us as we are.” Bob Dylan connections aside, I’d like to look at the history of pop and electric acts playing at Cosquin as time permits. Obviously the Argentinean music and culture are evolving, and how Cosquin as a symbol of Argentina is going to have to begin reflecting this as well.

Source: Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=980918

This is actually going to be a compilation of a couple different sources. References to Atahualpa Yupanqui were generally passing, and mostly in Spanish.

Atahualpa Yupanqui was “profoundly influential” in his playing and writing, and rode the folk boom of the 1960’s (which, among others, was supported by a government mandate that at least half of all music played on the radio be Argentinean.) He was a communist and was imprisoned by Peron. TheAnnotated Bibliography, though, says he was distant and enigmatic, which seems very contrary to the feeling I’ve gotten from the festival.
Source: Annotated Bibliography of Latin-American Popular Music with Particular Reference to Chile and to nueva cancion Author(s): Jan Fairley Source: Popular Music, Vol. 5, Continuity and Change (1985), pp. 305-356 Published by: Cambridge University Press Stable

I’d like to round this out with some articles that I’m working on translating from Spanish. Unfortunately, that is going a lot slower than I thought, and has eaten up most of my time.