What we do…
We sing “Aguinaldos” and “Gaitas” (Venezuelan Christmas Carols).
Aguinaldos began as a derived form of the Spanish “Villancicos”, with lyrics and music adapted to the customs and daily life of each Venezuelan region. Gaitas were born of the need of the people from Zulia State, in Venezuela.
Aguinaldos and Gaitas are usually accompanied by “cuatro” (four-stringed guitar), “tambor” (drum), “chapero” (an improvised tambourine), “furro” or “furruco” (a single note bass), amongst other instruments.
Los Parranderos
This term is close in meaning to the expression “The Party Goers” and refers to happiness, life and good disposition to enjoy life.
The group started back in 1996 when a small circle of friends, all of them Venezuelan immigrants, decided to revive the Venezuelan tradition of going door-to-door singing Christmas Carols to their neighbours. That’s how this amateur musical group saw its origins and started playing different rhythms of the Venezuela’s Christmas musical repertory.
Nowadays, the group consists of about 16-20 participants and is under the direction of Maria Luces, who assumed that role due to her participation in several choirs back in Venezuela for over 18 years. Maria’s dedication and patience has resulted in a collective musical effort, shaping this group of amateur musicians.
The group starts its performances in November and continues all through the Christmas season, having shows in Granville Island, schools, churches, restaurants, senior houses, and malls around the Greater Vancouver area.
Los Parranderos are not musicians, but “happy people with musical homesickness” that are thrilled to share their rhythms and enthusiasm with Vancouver and its guests.
As an additional note, members of this group felt the need to expand its repertoire outside of Christmas themes and to include music from the rest of Latin America as well. The idea gave birth to FUSION LATINA, Vancouver’s Latin American Choir, with a wider goal of promoting music from all over the Latin America region.