Testimonies

Testimonies are sorted by publication date, showing the newest first.
Click on to sort by witness, to sort alphabetically by musical piece title, or to sort by publication date.

The Letter (La carta)

Music piece by:
Violeta Parra
Testimony by:
Paicavi Painemal
Detention in:
Cárcel de Temuco, 1985
Tags:
« We set up a band with a group of fellow prisoners. They were young, university students. One of them had a guitar. »
[Read full testimony]

Published on: 22 November 2017

The Paper Boat (El barco de papel)

Music piece by:
Julio Numhauser, popularised by the band Amerindios
Testimony by:
José Selín Carrasco Vargas
Detention in:
Campamento de Prisioneros Melinka, Puchuncaví, 1976
Tags:
« While we were imprisoned in Melinka, this song was sung every time that one of us was released. I remember a fellow prisoner nicknamed Bigote Molina (Moustache Molina) singing the song when we were going to Tres Álamos, from where we would be released a few days later. »
[Read full testimony]

Published on: 23 September 2017

Las mañanitas

Music piece by:
Manuel M. Ponce
Testimony by:
Beatriz Bataszew Contreras
Detention in:
Campamento de Prisioneros, Tres Álamos, December 1974 - May 1976
Tags:
« To every comrade who had a birthday, we would sing 'Las mañanitas' and we would give them presents. The majority of the female prisoners would come together and sing to you. I spent one birthday in prison. Birthdays were important for everyone because we were alive. »
[Read full testimony]

Published on: 08 November 2016

Lucía

Music piece by:
Joan Manuel Serrat
Testimony by:
Beatriz Bataszew Contreras
Detention in:
Campamento de Prisioneros, Tres Álamos, December 1974 - May 1976
Tags:
« Tres Álamos was a more 'normal' camp, even though we never had a trial. There was a lot of music, it was sort of ritualistic. »
[Read full testimony]

Published on: 08 November 2016

Zamba of my Hope (Zamba de mi esperanza)

Music piece by:
Luis H. Profili
Testimony by:
Edgardo Carabantes Olivares
Detention in:
Regimiento de Infantería Nº 2 Maipo / Regimiento Playa Ancha/ Fiscalía Militar, January 1975
Tags:
« Horacio Carabantes Olivares, my brother, was locked up in January 1975 at the Maipo regiment of Valparaíso, with a large group of male and female prisoners, all arrested by the DINA. »
[Read full testimony]

Published on: 07 November 2016

The Internationale

Music piece by:
Eugène Pottier (lyrics) and Pierre Degeyter (music). Popularised by Quilapayún in Chile in the 1970s.
Testimony by:
Ana María Jiménez
Detention in:
Villa Grimaldi, April 1975
Tags:
« In April 1975, the triumph of Vietnam was celebrated. We heard about it through a comrade who went to the bathroom and found a piece of the week’s newspaper. It was so beautiful for us to be there, having shouted so often for Vietnam at demonstrations. »
[Read full testimony]

Published on: 20 October 2016

We Shall Prevail (Venceremos)

Music piece by:
Claudio Iturra (lyrics) and Sergio Ortega (music)
Testimony by:
Lucía Chirinos
Detention in:
Cárcel de Mujeres Buen Pastor, La Serena, October 1973 - April 1974
Tags:
« The parish priest at Buen Pastor played the accordion. He played so beautifully. Because I played the piano, I asked him if I could borrow it. 'I'll lend it to you' he said. »
[Read full testimony]

Published on: 25 September 2016

The Little Fence (La rejita)

Music piece by:
lyrics: collective creation; music: 'Jálame la pitita' by Luis Abanto Morales (Peruvian polka)
Testimony by:
Lucía Chirinos
Detention in:
Cárcel de Mujeres Buen Pastor, La Serena, October 1973 - April 1974
Tags:
« Let’s get going, would say “the lizards”, as we called the policemen, because they dress all in green. »
[Read full testimony]

Published on: 25 September 2016

Dona Nobis Pacem

Music piece by:
Text from Agnus Dei (Roman Catholic Mass); music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Testimony by:
Lucía Chirinos
Detention in:
Cárcel de Mujeres Buen Pastor, La Serena, October 1973 - April 1974
Tags:
« Music was always present in my family. My dad played the violin and my mum the piano. When I was a child, my mum sent us to dance and piano lessons. »
[Read full testimony]

Published on: 25 September 2016

Today I Sing for the Sake of Singing (Hoy canto por cantar)

Music piece by:
Nydia Caro and Riccardo Ceratto
Testimony by:
Beatriz Bataszew Contreras
Detention in:
Calle Irán Nº 3037 / Venda Sexy / La Discotheque, 12 - 18 December 1974
Tags:
« I have never been a great music listener. Nevertheless, before the coup I used to listen to Nueva Canción, especially Quilapayún and Rolando Alarcón. I also liked cumbias, to fool around. We would dance and have fun. »
[Read full testimony]

Published on: 13 September 2016