Purpose: We propose to collect and musicologically archive high-quality digital recordings of the magical shamanic healing songs of the upper Amazon in Perú. These songs, called icaros, constitute a distinctive genre of indigenous and mestizo music with ancient cultural roots pre-dating the Incas, perhaps by thousands of years. The musical and cultural depth of icaros is highly emotional and spiritually compelling, particularly when heard in the context of an authentic ayahuasca ceremony (Luna; Dobkin de Rios).

Each individual sings his or her own icaros which they acquire from the spirits or their human teachers, or maestros. Icaros are used by shamans practicing any of various shamanic specialties.  Most involving healing, using spirit aids, a multitude of magical and medicinal plants, perfumes, prayer and complex combinations of these techniques.

Methods: We will work in the vicinity of Iquitos, Perú and outlying areas where we will work with curanderos and maestros, healers and teachers in the grass-roots shamanic tradition of the Peruvian Amazon. We propose to sample the shamanic methodology and record icaros of at least twenty-five indigenous and mestizo shamans during the calendar year 2002.

Distribution: The digital masters will be duplicated and stored at separate musicological museums to insure against catastrophic loss.  Digital copies will be distributed to university and musicological archives through customary scholarly channels.

The compiled archives will be available to the general public through Internet distribution and through selected music and fine arts outlets.  Proceeds from sales will accumulate in a fund administered by the International BioPark Foundation, Inc. to sponsor the study and preservation of traditional Peruvian mestizo shamanism.

Summary: We seek funding in the amount of $67,200 to digitally archive authentic shamanic icaros in the Peruvian ayahuascero tradition.  The requested funding will pay for investigators' expenses and stipend for eight months in the Peruvian Amazon, portable digital recording equipment, technical production, reproduction, and distribution.

You can help preserve this cultural musical art form through contribution of funding or applicable skills and services.  If you'd like to become involved, contact us.

Press here to send e-mail for discussion of this project or topics of related interest.  You can also contact us by postal mail to Reta Lawler, P.O. Box 1704, Boulder, Colorado 80306-1704. We'd like to hear from you!



Be sure to visit the
Amazon SpiritQuest
cyber-library
of Ayahuasca, ethnobotany, plant healing, and traditional shamanism
in western Amazonia

Ayahuasca Icaros
Magical healing songs, sonics, and chants
from SpiritQuest Ayahuasca healing ceremonies

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