Manongo Mujica - Ritual Sonoro Para Ruinas Circulares '2023

Tracks list

Manongo Mujica
“Ritual sonoro para ruinas circulares” [Sound ritual for circular
ruins]

Based on the rereading of the famous tale by Jorge Luis Borges “The
Circular Ruins”, the Peruvian composer, percussionist and painter, Manongo
Mujica, takes a new look at some of his great obsessions: the desert on the
coast of Peru and the pre-Hispanic ceremonials found there. For years the
impressions of these places have mobilized a very personal aesthetic, arising
from understanding the desert as a space for inner listening, and the ceremonial
centers or huacas, as the representation of a mystery.

The history of this album dates back to 1974, when a young Manongo Mujica and
his close friend Rafael Hastings began a journey to the ruins of Sechín, in
Casma, north of Lima. That trip resulted in Hastings' experimental film
“El incondicionado desocultamiento, cuatro cortometrajes sobre el hecho de
desaparecer” [The Unconditional Unconcealment, four short films about
disappearing]. Since then, Mujica's trips to Casma were constant, amazed by
other archaeological sites such as those of Chankillo and Las Aldas, 2,300 and
4,000 thousand years old, respectively, and whose functions included serving as
astronomical observatories, an activity closely related to related to sowing and
harvesting. Similarly, the archaeological complex of Túcume, located in
Chiclayo, north of Lima, 2,700 years old, became another place of permanent
visit.

These three sacred places have articulated a ceremonial route that Mujica has
traveled for years, and that, after re-reading Borges' tale, he now understands
it as a destination. In this tale the story is told of a man who came from the
sea and who, like a demiurge, at the foot of a ruined temple, dreams of another
man. Manongo Mujica here takes on the adventure of creating the music for a
story that takes place in a parallel universe, where that man's dream occurs at
the foot of a huaca.

“Ritual sonoro para ruinas circulares” [Sound ritual for circular
ruins] is the synthesis, the sonorous and dreamed amalgam, and perhaps Manongo
Mujica's definitive album about her particular vision of the soundscape and the
desert. Starting from a heritage of meditative and ethnic music, avant-garde
jazz and improvisation, we are introduced to a strange sound universe, based on
the use of various drum and percussion rhythms (udu, jembe, gong, cajon, seeds,
Chinese bells, etc.), field recordings and sound montages, dense reverberant,
gloomy, immersive and hypnotic environments, which give way to a solitary and
penetrating cello (performed by Fil Uno). Crescendos that bring out
electroacoustic processes (performed by the Norwegian Terje Evensen), to weave
panpipes, but also ritualistic voices (performed by Gabriela Ezeta) that outline
the atmosphere as that of a great ceremony.

The experience of “Ritual sonoro para ruinas circulares” is also
complemented and culminated with a film directed by Víctor Checa and Diego
Cendra. Filmed in 16mm, it portrays Mujica's excursion to these three
destinations (Las Aldas, Chankillo and Túcume) in the middle of a ritual that
evokes the Borgesian tale.

The album features the participation of Cristóbal, Daniel and Gabriel Mujica,
sons of Manongo. As well as with the participation of Fil Uno, Terje Evensen and
Gabriela Ezeta. It was recorded by Juanjo Salazar at the La encía del
Leopardo studio. Mastered by Mario Breuer. And with the cover art by Yerko
Zlatar, based on photographs by Pauline Barberi. It is published by Buh Records
in digital and in a vinyl edition, limited to 300 copies. 

Tracklist:
1.01 - Manongo Mujica - Viaje Al Templo Del Fuego (2:55)
1.02 - Manongo Mujica - Ritual de Escucha Circular (2:43)
1.03 - Manongo Mujica - El Sonido del Sueño (6:30)
1.04 - Manongo Mujica - Ritual del Hombre que Sueña MTR 1644 (4:47)
1.05 - Manongo Mujica - Despertar Dentro del Sueño (3:37)
1.06 - Manongo Mujica - Obertura para Las Aldas (4:57)
1.07 - Manongo Mujica - Descubriendo el Sonido del Paisaje del Norte (6:39)
1.08 - Manongo Mujica - Ritual para Chankillo (5:19)
1.09 - Manongo Mujica - La Quietud de la Huaca (3:16)

Related artists