Creation : 15 November 1994, Perpignan, France
Comissioner : Perpignan – PRAM
Dedicated to : Les Percussions de Strasbourg
Musicians: 6 percussionists
Duration : 40′
In November 1970, in Tinta, in the south of Peru, Tupac-Amaru (a descendant of the Inca kings) unleashed the largest revolt ever carried out by the Indians of South America against the despotic and cruel power of the Spanish Conquerors. The Indians had been held practically in slavery and were used as labour in the mines, factories and for domestic services. Tupac-Amaru wanted freedom and self-determination for his people. The revolt was not local, it was felt from Cina to La Paz, and echoed from Colombia to Argentina. Spanish military power was of course superior to the poorly armed and undisciplined Indian armies: the revolt was mercilessly suppressed. Tupac-Amaru fought his last battle in March 1781 and was taken prisoner and led to Cuzco. The Spanish revenge was brutal. The leaders of the revolt and their families were systematically exterminated. On 18 May 1871, Tupac-Amaru, his wife, uncle, eldest son and other supporters were publicly executed in the Plaza de Cuzco, where a large crowd had gathered. First of all, his supporters were hanged. Then his uncle, his son and his wife had their tongues ripped out and were strangled or hanged. Finally, they also cut out Tupac-Amaru’s tongue and tied his limbs to four horses that rode in all four directions. As his body was not torn apart despite their repeated attempts, he was beheaded. The torsos of Tupac-Amaru and his wife were then reduced to ashes, while their extremities and heads were sent to their city for public display. Los Funerales is the music of a ceremony that never took place: the funeral of José-Gabriel Tupac-Amaru and those who died with him in the Plaza de Cuzco.
Mesias Maiguashca