Ayahuasca: narrative composition adapted for string quartet

Abstract

In this article, I present the main aspects of the compositional process that led me to sonically narrate various experiences I underwent during Ayahuasca rituals, and their subsequent adaptation to the string quartet format. The use of narrative textures and instrumental performance effects constitute the main elements presented in the work. "Ayahuasca," as I titled the composition, not only aims to be an innovation in the Peruvian academic repertoire, but its relevance extends to the integration of Amazonian traditions of Peru within cultural contexts where the value of academic music is appreciated as a fundamental part of the individual. The structure of this article is interwoven through three phases: first, I address the experiences that provided inspiration and origin for the composition; subsequently, I discuss matters pertaining to the original composition and the ensemble for which the work was commissioned; finally, through a technical approach, I present aspects related to the adaptation for the string quartet format.