“I am motivated by the sound of the wind, the singing of birds. “That inspires me”

At times the fingers of his left hand hurt; at times, the right wrist. They are the parts of the body that Andrés ‘Chimango’ Lares (Ayacucho, 1957) exercises most vigorously when he begins to make the four strings of his violin vibrate. He plays with a grim gesture: it is up to the instrument to convey the wide range of emotions from him, not to him.

One step away from celebrating 50 years of artistic career, Lares says he relieves his pain with natural medicine. Just as natural is his inspiration. “I compose by ear,” he tells us from the cultural center that bears his name, in Chorrillos. I compose from the experience itself. I am motivated by the sound of the wind, the singing of birds. That inspires me,” says the musician who worked on the soundtrack of “Willaq Pirqa.”

Today, the nickname ‘Chimango’ – which comes from the Ayacucho dessert that I ate with peculiar delight as a child – is inseparably linked to the violin. This despite the fact that for a time he studied Linguistics in San Marcos. Until he realized that words were unnecessary for everything he sought to express with music.

“I also liked the harp, but it is a very loud instrument and tuning is a little complicated. There are 36 strings! I like the violin for its proximity to the human voice. It is an instrument that suits my personality more. If I’m sad, sad melodies come out; If I am happy, contagious melodies will come out”explains the teacher born in Cabana, province of Lucanas.

MAINTAIN THE LEGACY

In addition to being a violinist, ‘Chimango’ is one of the greatest promoters of the scissors dance. And in their shows has added two little dancers, Andrés and Valentina, grandson and granddaughter. It is a way for the cultural legacy to start from the family. And a reason for personal and artistic pride for the 66-year-old musician.

Along with them, at the end of last year, he toured Europe. In his travels to spread Peruvian musical culture, Lares shares with many other artists from native communities around the world. They are all very different from each other, but at the same time they have a lot in common: the desire to preserve their identity, their respect for their roots –especially the land–, and music helps them overcome any language barrier.

“As long as you adjust to 440, as we say, it is enough so that a Russian, a Thai or an African musician can follow you. That’s universal.”says ‘Chimango’ about his constant exchange with representatives of world music.

While he is preparing his memoir, which he hopes to publish next year, when he celebrates half a century of career, ‘Chimango’ says that for now no pain is stopping him. “If he could reach 60 years of career, it would be wonderful. But only the Divine knows that – he affirms –. Meanwhile, as the movie says, kachkaniraqmi. I still am.”