Cantos Cautivos
Chacabuco Mass (Misa chacabucana)
- Music piece by:Ángel Parra and Ariel Ramírez
- Testimony by:Luis Cifuentes Seves
- Experience in:Campamento de Prisioneros Chacabuco, January - February 1974
This song is the second track on the cassette recorded in the Chacabuco prison camp by the band Los de Chacabuco, formed by Ángel Parra and led by him until his release. At the time that the cassette was recorded, Ángel had already been freed and Ernesto Parra had become the group's conductor.
The Chacabuco Mass consists of eight songs: four by Ángel Parra, composed in the camp, and four by Ariel Ramírez from his Misa Criolla (Creole Mass) recorded by
These songs, as well as those from the Gospel of St Luke and the St John Passion, were performed by Los de Chacabuco in the masses celebrated by the chaplains for the benefit of the prisoners and the military.
It is interesting to note that Ángel was the only truly religious member in Los de Chacabuco. Nevertheless, the other members joined him enthusiastically and respectfully in singing these songs, essentially as a way of acknowledging the attitude of the Army chaplain Varela, who always treated the prisoners with great respect and solidarity.
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Published on: 13 November 2015
Clandestine recording made by political prisoners in Chacabuco in 1974.
Related testimonies:
- The Soldier (El soldado) Alfonso Padilla Silva, Campamento Prisioneros Estadio Regional, 25 December 1973
During Christmas 1973, approximately 660 men and 100 women were held as prisoners in the Concepción Regional Stadium. Concentration camp officials allowed us to celebrate Christmas on the pitch. We were in a corner of the pitch and we used the pole vault pit as a stage.
- Filistoque's Cueca (Cueca del Filistoque) Víctor Canto Fuenzalida, Campamento de Prisioneros Chacabuco, June 1974
Filistoque is a real-life person in all his mighty height (1.90 metres tall). I always remember him laughing. In Chacabuco, we shared a house for nearly ten months. Around him, you were never allowed to become depressed or get into a stew over our situation.
- Lucky Devil (El suertúo) Luis Cifuentes Seves, Campamento de Prisioneros Chacabuco, November 1973 - February 1974
This
cueca was composed at Chacabuco sometime between November 1973 and February 1974 and was sung by Los de Chacabuco, of which Víctor Canto and I were members. - A Cocky Fellow (El puntúo) Luis Cifuentes Seves, Campamento de Prisioneros Chacabuco, November 1973 - February 1974
This
cueca was composed in Chacabuco between November 1973 and February 1974, and was sung by the band Los de Chacabuco, to which Víctor Canto and I belonged. - The Crux of the Matter (La madre del cordero) Servando Becerra Poblete, Campamento de Prisioneros Chacabuco, 9 November 1973 - 10 November 1974
I recited this poem in the National Stadium. I continued to do so in the Chacabuco prison camp, earning the nickname of “Venancio” from my fellow prisoners.
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