An Ethnomusicological Study about the Main Musical Traits and Concepts of Traditional Mapuche Music

Several important works on Mapuche music have been published, but they do not significantly discuss musical sound aspects; rather, they examine the social and religious function of music as well as the organology of the musical instruments, among other important topics. The thesis’s original contribution to the discipline of ethnomusicology relates to the lacuna in the study of the musical material of traditional Mapuche music, which this study addresses. By applying an ethnomusicological approach, this research project focuses on the main musical sound traits of traditional Mapuche music, namely tonal material, rhythmic patterns and the distinctive use of acciaccaturas, glissandos and vibrato.