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
Palimpsesto
Inti-Illimani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
en la profunda pulpa de antesueño,
cuando el glacial se reconvierte en sol
y se nos va la esperma en el empeño,
y se nos cuaja el ceño de cenizas
ávidas de hendir el cavilar de leño.
Huelga deciros, libertad os una,
volviendo a errar y a errar sin miramientos
sobre un caballo y sobre un brioso brote,
que es una forma de entender amar
y otra jornada que vencéis al trote
con ansia de echar la tierra a mugir, la luz a rodar.
Huelga dudar que libertad amando
me vuelva a herir
la gana regresando.
Qué hambre tener qué libertad os una
os una en la memoria del ultraje,
os rememore y os despierte al vuelo,
os calce el corazón con los corajes,
os arremeta, sin parar, la estancia
oscura en que bebéis
la injuria y su brebaje.
Qué hombre volver para que os una libre
libre su nombre y su veloz corpiño,
su vientre cuarzo y su agonía historia,
y sus cadenas, su reloj, su niño.
Y os avecine, os una, y os ausculte
con sus dos manos y sus tres cariños,
y su refulgir
su oficio de herir
la luz por venir.
Si nos va a arder la gana en toda luna
y hemos de andarla junto tierra a tierra
que en las raíces libertad nos una.
The lyrics of Inti-Illimani's song Palimpsesto are rich in imagery and emotion, making it a captivating work that speaks of longing and desire for freedom. The song begins with the singer declaring that they love the other person more in the "deep pulp of the past dream," referring to a time when everything was still possible and they were full of hope. The metaphor of the "glacial converting to sun" suggests a transformation from coldness to warmth, and the use of the word "esperma" (sperm) hints at the idea of creation and fertility. At the same time, the singer also acknowledges the difficulty of their situation, as their brows are furrowed with "ash eager to split the wood's musings." This image of struggle and conflict is further emphasized by the use of the word "huelga" (strike/protest) in the opening line, which can be interpreted as a call to action or a desire to be understood.
The second verse of the song continues the theme of longing for freedom, with the singer dreaming of the other person plowing the earth with an iron plow and a wise lash, riding on a proud horse and a sprouting branch. This image of hard work and perseverance is presented as a form of love, a way of understanding and connecting with one another. At the same time, the singer acknowledges that this kind of love is not easy, as it requires ongoing effort and sacrifices. The final lines of the verse suggest that this effort is worth it, as it leads to the "earth singing and the light rolling."
The third and final verse of the song is perhaps the most poignant, as the singer reflects on the pain and struggle that come with loving someone who is not free. The use of the word "gana" (longing/hunger) suggests a deep longing that cannot be satisfied, and the repetition of the phrase "qué hambre tener qué libertad os una" (what hunger to have you free) emphasizes the singer's desire for the other person to be free. The closing lines of the song suggest that this longing will continue, even as they journey together through life.
Overall, Palimpsesto is a beautiful and complex work that speaks to the power of love and the desire for freedom, even in the face of difficulty and hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
Huelga deciros que yo os quiero más en la profunda pulpa de antesueño, cuando el glacial se reconvierte en sol y se nos va la esperma en el empeño, y se nos cuaja el ceño de cenizas ávidas de hendir el cavilar de leño.
I don't need to tell you that I love you more in the deep recesses of my dreams, when the coldness turns into warmth, and we get lost in passion, our frowns turning into eager expressions of desire.
Huelga deciros, libertad os una, que os sueño arando en hierro y sabio azote, volviendo a errar y a errar sin miramientos sobre un caballo y sobre un brioso brote, que es una forma de entender amar y otra jornada que vencéis al trote con ansia de echar la tierra a mugir, la luz a rodar.
I don't need to tell you, you must embrace freedom, as I dream of you plowing the land with iron and a wise whip, roaming free and wild on a horse, living life to the fullest and working hard with passion in your heart.
Huelga dudar que libertad amando me vuelva a herir la gana regresando.
I have no doubt that freedom, even when it hurts, is worth it, for without it, love cannot flourish and our desires will remain unfulfilled.
Qué hambre tener qué libertad os una os una en la memoria del ultraje, os rememore y os despierte al vuelo, os calce el corazón con los corajes, os arremeta, sin parar, la estancia oscura en que bebéis la injuria y su brebaje.
I hunger for the day when freedom unites us, it will be a reminder of the past injustices and empower us to rise and fight for what we believe in, to face the darkness head-on and not let the past weigh us down.
Qué hombre volver para que os una libre libre su nombre y su veloz corpiño, su vientre cuarzo y su agonía historia, y sus cadenas, su reloj, su niño. Y os avecine, os una, y os ausculte con sus dos manos y sus tres cariños, y su refulgir su oficio de herir la luz por venir.
What man could return to unite us in freedom, with his name and his strength, his struggles and his chains, his clock and his child? He would come to us, bringing his love and passion, his hands and his heart, his shimmering light piercing the darkness ahead.
Si nos va a arder la gana en toda luna y hemos de andarla junto tierra a tierra que en las raíces libertad nos una.
If our passion is to burn bright under every moon, and we must walk the earth together, then let freedom unite us in its roots.
Contributed by Kaylee K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Horacio Max Larraín
Durante mi exilio en Dinamarca, crié a mis pequeñas hijas con esta música. Me lo agradecen hasta el día de hoy.Gracias Inti!!
Leonardo Fabian Reyes Norambuena
@Diego S. Loayza ,,q,q,q,q,,q
Salomon Kohen
@Franz Perez bbb
Diego S. Loayza
@Franz Perez por rojo
AUGUSTO LUGOFFMAN
Desde la tierra de Zapata y Villa se reconoce esta maravillosa obra de INTI ILLIMANI que se escucha hasta el mas lejano lugar del mundo .
VentusKey II
Per me "El mercado Testaccio" è magia. spensierata e malinconica allo stesso tempo.
argentina campillay neyra
Oh, qué hermoso es escuchar esta magna obra. Gracias Inti, me lograron inspirar hasta la desazón en los tiempos que era profesora básica. Con esta obra musical me inspiré en una presentación acerca de la creación humana a través de la danza y la ejecutaron alumnos y alumnas de mi querida escuela Manuel Rodríguez de Copiapó. Con dicha obra salimos hacia la comunidad copiapina y la presentamos junto a otras escuelas. Mis alumnos felices y yo orgullosa.
vzuljevic
me gustó ese concepto hasta la desazón, es cuando un sentimiento no te cabe en el alma o la dejas tan pletórica que el alma no te cabe en el cuerpo. Hubo un tiempo en que sólo escuchaba este disco. En particular la fiesta de la tirana y Danza.
hop zop
en el contexto es una descripción extraordinaria: inspirar hasta la desazón...
Van Chala
+argentina campillay neyra ¿hasta la desazón? extraña expresión si se trata de una emoción positiva.