The Peruvian Charango: Tradition and Innovation

The charango is a small string instrument from South America, and it is mainly used in
Andes music. In this lecture, Alejandro Ataucusi will explain and showcase the unique
techniques developed in the Peruvian charango tradition. Additionally, an introduction on
the hatun charango and its harmonic possibilities will be presented.
This lecture will be in English only.

General entrance fee: 10 €
Student entrance fee: 7 €

Alejandro Ataucusi is a guitarist, charango and hatun charango player, educator,
composer, and band leader of Afro-Peruvian Jazz band Forbidden Tropics. Born and
raised in Lima, Peru, Alejandro was exposed to ethnic music from an early age. His first
instrument was the charango, and it has taken him to many stages from Peru to the US,
and Europe. In addition to playing the charango, Alejandro has also discovered the
hatun charango in recent years, and it has given him more ideas for composing and
arranging. In 2022, Alejandro Ataucusi was considered one of the “finest interpreters of
the hatun charango” by El Peruano Newspaper.

Alejandro’s interest for cultivating and disseminating Peru’s rich musical history and
culture all over the world has given him the opportunity to perform and lecture on the
charango at William Paterson University, the University of California – Riverside,
Rutgers University, and New York University with upcoming performances at the
National Music Museum in South Dakota, US , and the Charango Festival in Vienna,
Austria.
With the charango, Alejandro focuses on the traditional Peruvian charango repertoire
and technique which is unfamiliar in the charango community. Alejandro also plays the
hatun charango , which is a type of charango with 3 extra low strings. Because of its
wider range of notes, Alejandro has pushed the boundaries of the traditional charango
playing and has worked on Jazz standards, Bach pieces, and his own compositions.
Alejandro is endorsed by Godin guitars, Hanika Guitars, Udo Roesner amps, and
Aquila strings.

Picture by Hazel Saga (from Adventure Awaits Media)