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
Salmo de la rosa verdadera
Inti-Illimani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Aunque la verdadera rosa es rosa,
Mas la rosa sin ti rosa no fuera
Si no otra flor cualquiera, menos rosa
¿Vas a negar que eres la rosa, Rosa?
No importa; pues la rosa verdadera
Dice que entre las dos tú eres la rosa
¿En qué quedamos, pues?¿Quién es la rosa?
Por juez al corazón poner quisiera,
Pero mi corazón también es rosa.
De modo que es posible que me muera.
De modo qué es posible que me muera
Sin que me digan, entre rosa y rosa,
Quién diablos es la rosa verdadera.
The song "Salmo de la rosa verdadera" by Inti-Illimani is a beautiful poem that explores the essence of a true rose. The song compares the beauty of a rose with that of a woman, particularly Rosa. The lyrics suggest that the true rose is Rosa, and although there are other roses, none can be compared to the beauty of Rose without whom the rose would be just another flower. The lyrics are essentially a romantic conversation between two lovers who are passionately discussing the nature of love.
The song starts by saying "You are the real rose, even though the true rose is rose, but the rose without you would not be a rose, but another flower." This line emphasizes the importance of Rosa, and how without her, the rose would not have the same meaning. The second verse asks Rosa if she would deny that she is the rose, to which the answer does not matter, as the true rose says that the two of them are the rose, and she is just a fake rose.
The following verse is somewhat confusing as the poet tries to figure out who is the true rose. The song suggests that the heart can be the judge, but since his heart is also a rose, it is possible that he might die without knowing who the true rose is.
Overall, the song is an interpretation of love, and how it is difficult to differentiate between the true nature of things. The poetic language creates a sense of ambiguity, which reflects the complexity of true love.
Line by Line Meaning
Eres la rosa tú, la verdadera,
You are the true rose,
Aunque la verdadera rosa es rosa,
Even though the true rose is still a rose,
Mas la rosa sin ti rosa no fuera
But without you, the rose wouldn't be a rose,
Si no otra flor cualquiera, menos rosa
It would be just another flower, less rosy.
¿Vas a negar que eres la rosa, Rosa?
Are you going to deny that you are the rose, Rosa?
No importa; pues la rosa verdadera
It doesn't matter because the true rose,
Dice que entre las dos tú eres la rosa
Says that between the two of you, you are the true rose,
Y que ella es una rosa de chivera.
And she is just a common garden rose.
¿En qué quedamos, pues?¿Quién es la rosa?
So, who really is the rose?
Por juez al corazón poner quisiera,
I wish I could make my heart the judge,
Pero mi corazón también es rosa.
But even my heart is also a rose.
De modo que es posible que me muera.
So, it's possible that I might die without knowing.
Sin que me digan, entre rosa y rosa,
Without anyone telling me, between one rose and the other,
Quién diablos es la rosa verdadera.
Who the hell is the true rose.
Writer(s): Marcelo Coulon
Contributed by Lucy L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
R V
Esta canción es una joya. Todo en ella es hermoso.
Mario Ceballos Game
No creo que haya otro salmo tan bien compuesto para solucionar la vieja pregunta "y si le cambiamos el nombre a la rosa, perdería su aroma???"
Alvaro Arroyo Pantoja
A mi nieta. María José que amo con todas mis fuerzas y muchísimo más.....
Hernan Sasso
Grupo esencial de la música latinoamericana soberbia interpretación tenía que ser inti illimani gracias
Elsa Martin
Me encanta este grupo.👍👍👍👍
gustavo braziulis
Maravillosa interpretación 💕💕💕
lalo lalona
genial
Elsa Martin
🇨🇺Aplausos para este grupo desde mi pais.🌹🌹👍👍👍👍
Amay Salvadora ASECH
♥️♥️
Patricio Yañez
mi abuelita rosa