Sidérea Caapi: música en las ceremonias de ayahuasca. Un acercamiento auto etnográfico

Abstract

This document contains an ethnographic approach about the use of ayahuasca (yage) as a traditional medicine in South America, and an inquiry of the musical expressions that develop around this practice. This work is, to a large degree, based on personal experience of approximately twenty years participating in these ceremonies as a musical companion and also as a patient. The first chapter is a brief description about ayahuasca, its effects, its uses and some examples about how these ceremonies are developed in some communities. It also includes the presentation of some projects that work supported by the use of traditional medicines, and that have a social and artistic focus. The second chapter is an inquiry about the concept of medicine music and other terms that are popularly used to refer to the musical expressions that are utilized in ayahuasca ceremonies and others alike. In addition, there is an auto-ethnographic description of the author about the relationship that he has had with the use of ayahuasca in function of the music. Finally, the document presents a general proposition about some musical criteria that the author utilizes to make music in these types of ceremonies.