The pasillo is a musical genre that originated in the 19th century Viceroyalty of New Granada in Bogotá, Colombia, influenced by the Viennese waltz and Spanish paso doble. It is associated with Colombian and Ecuadorian nationalism and was popularized by military bands and singers like Nicasio Safadi, Enriquez Ibanez Mora, and Julio Jaramillo in the early 20th century. The pasillo keeps evolving due to social, economic, and political changes but still features guitar, mandolin, and string instruments with poetic, sentimental lyrics about Ecuadorian culture and landscape.

1. Pasillo
By Dafne

2. Origins
19th Century Viceroyalty of New Granada
(Panama, Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia) in
Bogotá (Colombia)
Believed to originate from the Viennese Waltz
with influences by the Spanish Paso Doble.
Associated Colombian/ Ecuadorian (Nationalism)
War of Independence
National Musical Style of Ecuador

4. History
Started being played by military bands
(instrumental).
Stopped being a festival genre and became more
popular since the beginning of the 20th century.
Went through a transition when the radio was
introduced in the 1950s because of competition
with other genres.
Keeps transforming because of social, economic,
and political changes.

5. Notable People
Nicasio Safadi and Enriquez Ibanez Mora for
their duet “Ecuador”: helped give Pasillo
popularity.
Julio Jaramillo: performed throughout Latin
America and Spain, which helped give popularity
to Pasillo.

6. Instruments Used
Guitar
Rondin
Mandolin
Other stringed instruments

7. Lyrics
1920s: about unfaithful women, angry and vulgar.
National pride and respect to women.
About Ecuadorian people and landscape.
Sentimental
Poetic
Down tempo

8. Musical Example
Julio Jaramillo- El Aguacate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHMDpFCcyA
A

9. Analysis
Medium: Guitar, mandolin, male voices (2), string ensemble
(chordophones)
Meter: Triple
Harmony: Minor, Homophonic, wide range
Melody: Disjunct, long continuous lines
Form: Intro | Verse 1 x2 | Chorus x2 | Verse 2 | Verse 3| Instrumental
Verse 2 repeated | Verse 3 repeated x2
Vocal: 2 male voices, 1st voice sings the first verse the first time, 2nd
voice sings the first verse the second time, both sing the rest of the
song in harmony, melancholic, use of crescendo and decrescendo,
straight-tone
Style: Pasillo, doubling
Context: Ecuador, 20th century, love, pain

10. Works Cited
"MUSICA.COM > J > Julio Jaramillo > El Aguacate." Letra de El
Aguacate de Julio Jaramillo. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Aug. 2014.
<http://www.musica.com/letras.asp?letra=1012970>.
"Other National Identities: Pasillo in Ecuador." Other National
Identities: Pasillo in Ecuador. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Aug. 2014.
<http://othernationalidentities.blogspot.in/2013/02/pasillo-in-ecuador.
html>.
"Pasillo." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Aug. 2014. Web. 31
Aug. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasillo>."Pasillo – The
Rhythm of Ecuador - English Blog." Pasillo â€
“ The Rhythm of Ecuador - English Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Aug.
2014. <http://www.ecuador.com/blog/pasillo-the-rhythm-of-ecuador>.
All images from Google Images