Cross Pollination

Click Horning’s Further Down the Line, and Oh Marie, have made it to Cusco, Peru via Randy Richards, and Mountain Spirit Institute. When Chimu Inka was in the USA, Click presented them with a copy of his album Tracks.  They really took to the first two tracks on this album, and recently asked Randy to write down the lyrics so they could learn them.

When asked what their plans were for the songs, both said they’d be playing them with full Peruvian traditional folklore instrument accompaniment, which means vocals in English, pan pipes and charango. When last checked, they were learning the meaning of the words and pronunciation.  We’ll have to see how this turns out!

I’ll keep you posted.

Fire! Fire!

Check out this funny video of Chimu Inka band member Wachi Taype and his birthday cake surprise, presented to him Aug. ‘09.

Hello from Cusco, Peru

I want to invite you in the USA to visit my country. I want to send greetings to all the people in Sunapee and the many special places in the US that we met. Most likely next year, in 2010, I will be back with the band Chimu Inka again in the Northeast.

In this program that Randy and I have developed with Mountain Spirit Institute, we had a great time the first visit, and plan on doing even more next time.

My wife, Lourdes,  is working on a a cruise ship in the Caribbean, and maybe I am going to visit her on the ship, and if all goes well, maybe Amanda and Randy will also join us.

Abrazos de Peru!
Guillermo

Wachi Says Hi from Cusco

Greetings from Cusco,

We just were translating a song from Click Horning called “Further Down the Line” here in Cusco with Randy’s help.  Not before we had a lunch though. We ran through the song, and saw some photos on Randy’s website Mandala.  We also talked a bit about collaboration with Randy on piano and synth, and working with Chimu Inka on some fusion projects.

We look forward to coming back to the USA in 2010.

Chimu Inka/Guillermo host MSI this July, Join us!

Machu Picchu

MSI is excited to be working further with Guillermo Seminario and Chimu Inka this summer. For anyone interested in joining us, a small group, (limited to 6-7) will be going to Cusco, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca with Guillermo and Chimu Inka as our hosts.   MSI has been running programs to Peru since 1998, (R Richards had been mountain guiding before that in Peru), and we are excited to be working with who we consider our dear family members Guillermo, Wachi and and Mario.  

Amantani Island, Summit View

We will visit with locals, do a small service project, stay in the Sacred Valley, venture to Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca. There will be a base for a few days in Ollantaytambo where we will head to Willoc to study weaving in action. This area is known for it’s traditional weaves with mainly vegetable dyes.  Of course, Guillermo and his band members will provide a strong musical influence, not only by performing, but sharing with us their history and love of traditional Andean folklore music.

Chimu Inka in VT, Oct'08

There is still space available, airline prices are at an all time low to Lima and Cusco, so we hope you’ll consider joining us. For more information see MSI’s website at www.mtnspirit.org or contact Randy Richards at 603-763-2668 or by email at randy@mtnspirit.org .

HELLO TO ALL OUR FRIENDS IN THE U.S.

HELLO … YO SOY WACHI AS FRIENDS OF THE UNITED STATES ARE HERE … it’s raining a lot … well here shows a photo of a LAMA, ANIMAL TYPICAL OF THE MOUNTAINS OF CUSCO.

HOLA ¡¡¡¡¡¡

THIS PICTURE IS MACHUPICCHU

Short update about Chimu Inka

Post by Randy Richards
Hi Friends of Chimu Inka, 
I just got a phone call from Mario and he is doing very well. He’s glad to be back with this wife and 3yrd old daughter.  I talk with Guillermo about once a week or so. He is studying English and getting his cultural guide’s certificate at the Cusco University and should have it by this summer. His English is really coming along. If you’d like to chat with any of these guys it’s just a phone all away and they’d love to hear from you. Drop me an email (found on our contact page at the website link to the right of this column) and I’ll send you any one of their telephone numbers.

Mario Montalvo in Vermont

Chimu Inka had a working vacation in East Calais Vermontat Randy’s long time friend Cody Michaels’ beautiful house sitting location at an old farm in Northern Vermont.  Although the audience wasn’t huge, the setting was ideal, set in an old barn. The meal and company following the concert, not to mention the views, made the whole drive worthwhile. Pictured here is Mario Montalvo, singer/guitar player extrodanaire as the subject of a photographer’s eye outside the barn, during one of their breaks. This image portrays a lot of Mario’s demeanor. He is a wonderful statesman for his country. Yes, the flag is French. The owners where Cody housesits spend a lot of time in France. But the barn in full-blooded Vermonta.
Mario is a master who plays with his heart and soul. We will miss him til the next time he comes to the USA..or until you come with us on a Mountain Spirit program to Peru and visit him in Cusco!

Bennington Schools visit, a success

Guillermo Seminario is picture here with some school children in a Bennington, VT classroom. The band made an enormous impression on youngsters. Many were excited to see the Peruvians in their school and actively thanked them at the end of the events.

One student is seen holding up the “cha cha” or some sheep’s toenails, which serve as a percussion instrument. He also is donning a Chuyu hat and poncho normally worn by Shamans of the Quero nation. These chuyus and ponchos have been used with permission from the Shamans. Guillmermo and Wachi went on a four day trek into the high and remote mountains to the Quero people to ask of the Shamans if they could wear the traditional clothing.