Of Criers and Knife-Sharpeners: Unlikely Connections Between the Music of Enrique Iturriaga and José Ignacio López Ramírez Gastón

Abstract

This article examines the unexpected connections between compositions by Enrique Iturriaga and José Ignacio López Ramírez Gastón, two figures in contemporary Peruvian music who represent opposite poles in the spectrum of musical composition in Peru. Through an analysis of the musical discourse in Iturriaga's Pregón y Danza and López's Filo errante 2.1, it explores how both composers, despite their divergent paths and methods, find common ground in their attempt to capture the essence of a constantly transforming Lima. The study highlights how the technical innovation and thematic richness of these works serve as vehicles to express nostalgia and critique of the socio-economic and cultural changes in the Peruvian capital. Through a structural and spectrographic analysis, it is shown that, beyond the stylistic and generational differences, Iturriaga and López share an underlying narrative approach that reflects a common concern for Peruvian cultural identity. This article not only sheds light on the complexity of contemporary academic music from Peru, but also invites a reconsideration of traditional aesthetic categories and perceptions of innovation in musical composition.