The group was formed by students at Universidad Técnica del Estado at Santiago, Chile in 1967. In 1973 as they were on tour abroad, General Augusto Pinochet launched a coup d'etat and took power. Having heard of the numerous extra-judicial killings of many fellow artists by Chile's army, they took up residence in Italy, resulting in "the longest tour in history" for Inti-Illimani as they lived in de facto exile. They continued their efforts supporting Chilean democracy internationally; magnitizdat copies of their work continued to be widely distributed in Chile. In September 1988, days after they were no longer banned from Chile, they began touring Chile again. They helped organize the voting down of the referendum that would have re-elected Pinochet. Recently, they were actually supported by Chile as representatives of Chilean culture.
In the past the group was musically led by Horacio Salinas and politically led by Jorge Coulon. However, in 2001 there was a controversial split of the group, which started when three key members left the group (José Seves, Horacio Durán and Horacio Salinas). They were replaced by Manuel Meriño (from Entrama), Cristián González and Juan Flores. Due to the importance of departed members, many called into question the ability of the remainder to carry on the Inti-Illimani name. Meanwhile, the three departed members started their own group they call Inti-Histórico. From 2005 there are two groups:
Inti-Illimani New (Coulon brothers)
Inti-Illimani Histórico (José Seves, Horacio Durán and Horacio Salinas)
Membership
In August 1967 Inti-Illimani's earliest membership consisted of:
Horacio Durán
Max Berrú
Jorge Coulon
Luis Espinoza
Oscar Guzmán
Ciro Retamal
Pedro Yáñez
In 1968 Inti-Illimani's membership consisted of:
Horacio Salinas (Musical director and main composer)
Horacio Durán
Max Berrú
Jorge Coulon
Ernesto Perez de Arce
Current line-up of the "Inti-Illimani Nuevo":
Jorge Coulon
Christian González
Daniel Cantillana
Juan Flores
Efren Viera
Marcelo Coulon
Manuel Meriño
César Jara
Current line-up of the "Inti-Histórico":
Horacio Salinas
Horacio Durán
José Seves
Jorge Ball
Fernando Julio
Camilo Salinas
Danilo Donoso
Other members in the history of the group:
Ernesto Pérez de Arce
Homero Altamirano
José Miguel Camus
Renato Freyggang
Pedro Villagra
La mar cuando está variable
Inti-Illimani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
y oscura la noche
es como señal de duelo
y sus olas son reproche.
No vaya el hombre a la sombra
rumbeando sobre su bote
que la mar esta variable
y que oscura está la noche.
La mar cuando está variable
y la noche oscura
cuando se perdió en los mares
y me anegó la amargura.
Ya no hay hora que no duela
ni lágrima que no escurra,
que estaba la mar variable
y estaba la noche oscura.
Si se fue con mar variable
y paso perdido
se llevó sobre la barca
el largo tiempo vivido.
En el mar se borra el surco
y no habrá placer ni olvido
si se fue con mar variable
por aquel camino hundido.
In "La mar cuando está variable", Inti-Illimani describes the dark and tumultuous sea as a symbol of grief, with its waves serving as condemnation to those who dare to sail in such treacherous conditions. The lyrics warn against navigation in such circumstances, as both the sea and the night are dark and unpredictable. The song speaks of loss and pain, as the singer recounts the anguish they experienced when they became lost at sea and were overwhelmed by bitter disappointment. The pain they feel is so severe that there is no moment they don't hurt, and no tear that doesn't flow. The song concludes with a final warning about the path of the lost; those who venture into the sea with its changing tide and uncertain currents are forewarned about losing much more than just their way.
"La mar cuando está variable" is a commentary on the nature of unpredictability and how it can lead to destruction, as well as the devastating consequences that can come from losing oneself to it. The song is also an ode to the dangers of navigating unknown territory, whether it be on a literal or metaphorical level. Inti-Illimani uses metaphor and symbolism to drive home their message, creating a sense of tension and foreboding with their descriptive lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
La mar cuando está variable
The sea, when it's rough and changeable
y oscura la noche
and when the night is dark
es como señal de duelo
it's like a sign of mourning
y sus olas son reproche.
and its waves are a reprimand.
No vaya el hombre a la sombra
Don't let the man go towards the shadows
rumbeando sobre su bote
with his boat navigating towards the unknown
que la mar esta variable
because the sea is rough and changeable
y que oscura está la noche.
and the night is dark
La mar cuando está variable
The sea, when it's rough and changeable
y la noche oscura
and when the night is dark
cuando se perdió en los mares
when lost in the seas
y me anegó la amargura.
and despair took over me.
Ya no hay hora que no duela
Every moment is now painful
ni lágrima que no escurra,
and tears won't stop falling
que estaba la mar variable,
because the sea was rough and changeable
y estaba la noche oscura.
and the night was dark
Si se fue con mar variable
If one left with the rough sea
y paso perdido
and the journey ended in loss
se llevó sobre la barca
So was taken the entire life journey
el largo tiempo vivido.
with all the joys and struggles lived.
En el mar se borra el surco
In the sea, the trail is erased
y no habrá placer ni olvido
And there will be no memories left or forgotten.
si se fue con mar variable
If one left with the rough sea
por aquel camino hundido.
on that sunken path
Contributed by Isaiah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
CC126
Grande Inti Illimano. Ójala pronto se reconcilien y canten todos juntos de nuevo.
Carlesius
Estas armonías vocales siempre me han evocado al canto gregoriano.
david morasan
musica verdaderamente especial no para todos
anhedonia32
La pregunta es: ¿alguna vez la habrán tocado en vivo?
anhedonia32
Y temazo...
KrytenVIII
Discazo.