Monday, Jul. 06, 2009

'Songcatcher': McKendree professor brings the music of Ecuador to light

Just call him McKendree's "songcatcher."

Phil Wilhelm is working to preserve traditional music in Ecuador by traipsing around in the jungle, getting to know villagers and recording songs handed down from their ancestors.

"One of the reasons the indigenous music is becoming lost is that people don't really take an interest in it," said Phil, assistant music professor at McKendree University. "It's very primitive sounding."

Phil works in much the same way as Dr. Lily Penleric in the movie "Songcatcher," except she was documenting Appalachian folk music.

Phil just returned from his sixth trip to Ecuador, co-sponsored by O'Fallon United Church of Christ. He and four McKendree students focused on three performance groups.

"It's not like a symphony or anything, but it's cool to see what people can do with limited resources," said student Emily Thoman, 20, of Edwardsville.

"They would take a bunch of leaves and tie them together and shake them, and one guy used a hollowed-out turtle shell. He would scrape his hand on the top of it, and it would make this weird squeaking sound. They also used guitars and violins, but they weren't tuned according to Western standards."

The students spent two weeks in Ecuador, a South American country that straddles the equator. High humidity made them feel damp during both hot days and cool nights.

They stayed in the cities of Quito and Tena, rode buses to rural villages and walked to homes in the rainforest. A Spanish translator helped them interview musicians.

Hotel amenities included bathrooms with running water, electric lights and fans and wireless networks.

"It's amazing how much things have changed since I started going (six years ago)," Phil said. "The Internet is very popular in the jungle. They have Internet cafes all over the place. People don't have it in their homes, but it's so cheap to go to these cafes. It's about 30 cents an hour."

Phil, 35, of Belleville, is a pianist and composer. He serves as coordinator of music education and chamber choir director at McKendree and director of music at O'Fallon United Church of Christ.

Phil first went to Ecuador on a mission trip in 2004. He noticed young villagers dressed in primitive clothing listening to music on CD players powered by car batteries.

"I thought, 'Why are we in the middle of nowhere, and nobody is playing any instruments?'" he said. "There was no live music. It was just odd."

Phil later discovered many Ecuadorians didn't even recognize traditional instruments. On one trip, someone asked if a turumpa (string instrument made with bamboo) was a fishing pole.

Phil eventually wrote his dissertation on music education in the rainforest. He earned his doctorate in 2007 through an online program at Northcentral University in Arizona while teaching at McKendree.

Other students on the recent trip to Ecuador included Zach Rhines, of Belleville, Justin Titsworth, of Breese, and Genni Strathman, of Florissant, Mo. Beyond research, they went whitewater rafting, hiking and camping.

"I got 87 bug bites in one day on this camping trip we went on," said Emily, who hated the country's insects but liked its simple lifestyle.

To see a video of an Ecuadorian group performing traditional music, visit the Web site at www.mckendree.edu/music or go to YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v+OrwSwerKVhw.

People interested in helping to fund Wilhelm's music missions can send contributions to Ecuador Fund, O'Fallon United Church of Christ, 206 W. Adams, O'Fallon, IL 62269. For more information, call 537-6428.