Weaving rhythms: sound creation based on Afro-Esmeraldan musical tradition incorporating harmonic resources from jazz

Abstract

The Afro-Esmeraldan musical tradition constitutes a cultural heritage transmitted orally that reflects the memory, resistance, and transformation of the Afro-descendant community of Esmeraldas, Ecuador. This study developed a sound creation that fuses traditional Afro-Esmeraldan elements with harmonic resources from jazz, establishing a dialogue between the ancestral and the contemporary. The methodology included qualitative research based on bibliographic review, critical listening of Afro-Esmeraldan musical projects, interviews with specialized teachers, and practical experimentation with narrative forms and traditional musical pieces. As a result of the creative process, seven works were produced: two musicalized poems (¿Qué tendrá soledad? and Breve historia nuestra), three reinterpreted traditional pieces (Caramba, Andarele, and Agua Larga), one instrumental composition, and one musical adaptation (Guarapo). The findings evidence that the Afro-Esmeraldan oral tradition, being a dynamic mechanism, allows the evolution and adaptation of its expressions without losing its cultural essence. It is concluded that the integration of harmonic resources from jazz into Afro-Esmeraldan music constitutes a viable path to preserve, enrich, and make visible this musical legacy in the contemporary context.