Preface - If you had an ‘expert subject’, a perhaps quirky interest in which you developed specialist knowledge over time, what would it be? After writing this story, I’ve decided mine would probably be ‘The music of the Chilean group Illapu’, or at a stretch ‘The music of Chilean folk musicians exiled following the bloody military overthrow of the democratically elected Alllende government by Augusto Pinochet in 1973’.
It’s 50 years this year since the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende was overthrown in a military coup; since musician, poet Victor Jara was murdered with others in a soccer stadium; since folk musicians playing music featuring Andean pan pipes, such as Inti Illimani and Illapu, left Chile, fearful for their lives and unable to play their music.
It’s almost 50 years, 47 years this year, since I taught English at La Casa Inglesa, in Madrid. My British expat house mate, Hugh Pike, recommended I listen to his cassette of the Chilean group Inti Illimani; then later told me about a cafe/wine bar in Madrid, 'El Rincon', at which South American exiled poets and musicians performed in the late evening. My memories of visits there are of an atmosphere of sadness, of grief yet of passion and the poetic and musical intelligence of the performers.
On returning to Melbourne in October 1977, I began collecting cassette and LP recordings of Chilean musicians; followed the ‘Latino’ music scene in Melbourne, where there was a Chilean expat community; attended a concert at which Inti Illimani played with Spanish guitarist Paco Pena, and even had a brief romantic interlude with an exiled Chilean musician while refreshing my Spanish at a course in Canberra in 1981!
In 1987, the Chilean group, Illapu played to a sold-out audience at the Melbourne Concert Hall. I was there, along with other lovers of their music and members of the Chilean expatriate diaspora in Melbourne. I was spellbound, and again experienced the passion and the poetic and musical intelligence of the performers.
I was therefore excited to discover Illapu was to perform additional concerts at the art-house cinema 'Theatre Royal' in Castlemaine, just 40 km from my home in Daylesford. There were just 30 people in the audience at the first concert. Illapu played as if they were playing to a full house at the Melbourne Concert Hall! Word spread, there was a full house at the second concert! My friends and I were there again, once again delighted, moved, inspired by their music.
I have remained interested in the music of the exiled Chilean musicians and when I came to Benalla 25 years ago, was thrilled to find a group of Chilean folk musicians who lived in the Taminick area playing at local wine festivals.
This year, the anniversary of the military coup and the death of Victor Jara, I have become immersed in following memorial concerts by Inti Illimani and Illapu in Chile, Spain and much of Europe where there are large Chilean expatriate communities.
Triggered by 50th Anniversary concerts, memories have flooded back as I've watched Illapu, 46 years later, playing in 'my' Madrid where I first heard the music of exiled Chilean musicians in 1977. I remember their performances at the Concert Hall in Melbourne and at the Theatre Royal in Castlemaine, and am again uplifted and inspired.
Brothers Roberto and Jaime Marquez and most of the other band members are now in their mid-60's. Returning from exile to Chile in 1988, they have become poet musicians, whose music recognises the struggles of their people; the tragic death in the coup of poet musicians Victor Jara; the music of Violette Parra, and more recent struggles.
I am so glad that they have kept playing their music. Thank you, Illapu!
It’s almost 50 years, 47 years this year, since I taught English at La Casa Inglesa, in Madrid. My British expat house mate, Hugh Pike, recommended I listen to his cassette of the Chilean group Inti Illimani; then later told me about a cafe/wine bar in Madrid, 'El Rincon', at which South American exiled poets and musicians performed in the late evening. My memories of visits there are of an atmosphere of sadness, of grief yet of passion and the poetic and musical intelligence of the performers.
On returning to Melbourne in October 1977, I began collecting cassette and LP recordings of Chilean musicians; followed the ‘Latino’ music scene in Melbourne, where there was a Chilean expat community; attended a concert at which Inti Illimani played with Spanish guitarist Paco Pena, and even had a brief romantic interlude with an exiled Chilean musician while refreshing my Spanish at a course in Canberra in 1981!
In 1987, the Chilean group, Illapu played to a sold-out audience at the Melbourne Concert Hall. I was there, along with other lovers of their music and members of the Chilean expatriate diaspora in Melbourne. I was spellbound, and again experienced the passion and the poetic and musical intelligence of the performers.
I was therefore excited to discover Illapu was to perform additional concerts at the art-house cinema 'Theatre Royal' in Castlemaine, just 40 km from my home in Daylesford. There were just 30 people in the audience at the first concert. Illapu played as if they were playing to a full house at the Melbourne Concert Hall! Word spread, there was a full house at the second concert! My friends and I were there again, once again delighted, moved, inspired by their music.
I have remained interested in the music of the exiled Chilean musicians and when I came to Benalla 25 years ago, was thrilled to find a group of Chilean folk musicians who lived in the Taminick area playing at local wine festivals.
This year, the anniversary of the military coup and the death of Victor Jara, I have become immersed in following memorial concerts by Inti Illimani and Illapu in Chile, Spain and much of Europe where there are large Chilean expatriate communities.
Triggered by 50th Anniversary concerts, memories have flooded back as I've watched Illapu, 46 years later, playing in 'my' Madrid where I first heard the music of exiled Chilean musicians in 1977. I remember their performances at the Concert Hall in Melbourne and at the Theatre Royal in Castlemaine, and am again uplifted and inspired.
Brothers Roberto and Jaime Marquez and most of the other band members are now in their mid-60's. Returning from exile to Chile in 1988, they have become poet musicians, whose music recognises the struggles of their people; the tragic death in the coup of poet musicians Victor Jara; the music of Violette Parra, and more recent struggles.
I am so glad that they have kept playing their music. Thank you, Illapu!
Photograph - WOMAD 2024 - Illapu
Postscript - Writing this story, I found myself in the shed, searching through a box of dusty LP’s. I found I’d kept a number of vinyl records, including ‘La Nueva Cancion Chilena, which included songs by Victor Jara; two records by Inti Illimani, and one by Illapu. I thought …Who on earth could possibly be interested in hearing a story about the music of Illapu and other Chilean exiled musicians following the 1973 coup? It’s a pretty quirky subject! Then I remembered ‘Hard Quiz’! So… in answer to the question …’Which former member of Illapu passed away in 2005?.... ‘Eric Maluenda’ … Thank you for playing … ‘Hard’!
Bev Lee
November 2023
Bev Lee
November 2023
End Note 1 The following video was made as a record of Illapu's trip to Melbourne in 1987 and features interviews introducing the background to songs performed at the Melbourne Concert Hall. If you are short of time, fast forward to around 48 mins...and when you see the audience at the end.... I was there!
End Note 2 - While researching this story, I discovered that Illapu will be performing at the WOMAD festival in Adelaide in March 2024…. I wonder if they will also be performing in Melbourne? The following video is included on the WOMAD page dedicated to Illapu...
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