Evening star., 1929-10-06
WIFE OF ENVOY HERE DEVOTED
TO REVIVAL OF INCA MELODIES
Sonora de Viteri Preparing
to Introduce Ancient Music
of Ecuador.
Places Senor Duran of Her
Country Among Greatest
of Living Composers.
BY GRETCHEN SMITH.

A movement to preserve the music of
the ancient Inca race of her country
has been greatly stimulated by the
Jealous work of Sonora de Viteri. wife
of the new Minister from Ecuador, in
introducing at recitals and private con-
certs the music of her country's great
composer, Sixto Duran.
Senor Duran Is director of the Ma
ttonal Conservatory of Music in Quito,
the capital of Ecuador, where for many
years Sonora Viteri. who Is a brilliant
pianist, studied music.
II consider Senor Duran one of the
greatest composers of the day." said
the sonora. HE has gathered together
the music and ancient folk lore Of the
old IncaS and written these strains
into music for modern Interpretation.
While the middle classes of Ecuador
are extremely musical, their songs have
preserved the rythm of Spanish in
f1uence. But the Inca music Is abSo-
lutely distinctive. There Is scale OF
just Ave notes which Is characteristic
of the Incaic music"
Sonora Viteri here gave a romantic
word picture of the Indian musicians
of her country.
They are usually to be found in the
them in groups playing on the Inca
instruments, especially two, a flute-like
instrument made of bone, called the
'quena' and one made of can bars,
on the order of Xylophone, known as a
'rondador' Only the Indians play
these instruments. The peasants Of the
country are also extremely musical, but
bearing the influence of their Spanish
ancestors, the most popular instrument
with them is the guitar.
THE Inca music is unmistakable,
added Sonora Viteri. 1T is very sad
and plaintiye-like most primitive
American music, in a minor key"
"Senor Duran's music has alredy been
introduced in Paris with great success.
and I have brought several of his and
other Ecuadorean compositions carry
ing throughout the Inca motif. which.
later, hope to introduce in Washington
at private recitals in my home"
It is certain that invitations to
Sonora Viteri's recitalS will be widely
sought, as the senora's reputation as a
pianist has spread before her. En-
dowed with more than one persons
ordinary share of beauty and charm,
Sonora Viteri is distinctly Spanish in
type. She speaks no English as yet, but
in conversation she lends to the
Spanish tongue all the musical beauty
for which that language Is famous.
In addition to her musical accom-
is vitality interested in the social well
fare work among the babies of Ecuador.
For about Is years." she says, I'VE
have had public milk stations through
out my country. My father, who was
dean of the College of Medicine and
Surgery of the University of Guayaquil.
established the first free milk station for
babies in the country. The movement
has spread rapidly until now there are
several societies among the women
which take care of the distribution
OF free milk to the children Of the poor.
Hygienic stations are found in the diff
ferent cities where the children receive
all the fresh milk they wish. II the
family is unable to call for the milk.
on account of illness, it is delivered
at the homes"
Sonora Viteri is the mother of two
lovely children-Rosita. 8 years old. and
little George, years old. She expects
to send both children to school as soon
as the family is established in the new
home.