El Grupo Vaivén
Myriam Hidber Dickinson – Flute
Nadia Oberli – Guitar
Carmen Ehinger – Cuatro/Voice
Berni Hager – Cuatro/Cavaquinho/Voice
Emanuel Schnyder – Double bass
Esperanza
Música venezolana
A common musical passion took hold of the five musicians of El Grupo Vaivén in spring 2019 and has not let go since: the music from Venezuela in its infinite variety, its surprising liveliness and its deep emotionality. This music reflects the changeable history of a country between the Caribbean and the Andes, with tropical and alpine climates and therefore also very different cultural traditions.
From the 15th century onwards, the indigenous roots of Venezuelan music mixed with the musical culture of the Spanish conquistadores, who brought their instruments, songs and dances – some of which were Arab influenced – to the New World. A complex rhythm influenced by the African slaves underpinned the often European-like melodies of the later immigrants from all parts of the Old World. Today, elements of jazz also enrich the very own style of Venezuelan folk music.
El Grupo Vaivén invites you on a musical journey to Venezuela: with flute, guitar, double bass and the Venezuelan national instrument cuatro (a small 4-string guitar) as well as the South American cavaquinho, El Grupo Vaivén brings melancholy waltzes, fast-paced joropos and pasajes, merengues in 5/8 time and yearning love songs to life.