Bolivian Musicians Gather to Celebrate Annual Band Festival

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Over the weekend a festival of brass and percusian acted as a precursor to Carnival. Let's go to Boliva for more on that story.

STORY: About 2,500 musicians broke out their trumpets, French horns, cymbals and giant drums in Oruro Bolivia.
Oruro plays host to the band festival as part of the run-up to
Carnival. The mining city is famous for its costumes and elaborate masks,
which make the pre-Lenten celebration one of Latin America's most vibrant
street festivals. The huge band played everything from the national anthem
to the local soccer club's rallying song, a favorite among locals.
[Fidel Martinez, band member]: "It is the most beautiful festival I have seen in my life. Way
back when there weren't these kinds of things and now that we see them they
are wonderful."

The theme of this year's festival was unity. Bolivia is a poor country
deeply divided over reforms proposed by leftist President Evo Morales, who is
the country's first indigenous leader.
[Waldo Villca, band leader]: "Music is the universal language and all the inhabitants of this
planet communicate through music. For Bolivia today is a day of unity and
brotherhood."
Most people in the wealthier Eastern lowlands oppose Morales' new draft
constitution, while many in the poorer Western highlands back it. The divide
is regional, ethnic and economic.

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[Marzana2009]

Los mejores compositores estan en Oruro, Viva Santa Cruz, es de un Orureño Gilberto Rojas.

peruchos y chilotes, basta de robar!

Bolivia los padres del Carnaval y las danzas!!

[bolivianocamba]

lo mejor de bolivia esta en santa cruz