Worlds of Music states that (“Me gusta la leche”) is a sanjuán, but is not a Quichua sanjuán-as heard in Muyu muyari warmigu.” Discuss the similarities and differences between the Quichua and Chota sanjuanes. Why is this musical genre “shared” between the two cultures?

What will be an ideal response?

• Similarities: same basic genre (sanjuán); same double–couplet construction, and comparable tempo, and phrases of 8 beats. The short-long-short rhythmic marker is found in both examples (marked with a * in the chart below).
• Differences: in the Chota sanjuán of "Me gusta la leche" the rhythm of second four beats of the main phrase is similar to--but not exactly the same as--the rhythm of the first four beats. In the case of the Quichua sanjuán, the rhythm of the second four beats (beats 5-8) is exactly the same as the rhythm of the first four beats (beats 1-4)--known as isorhythm. (See also comparison chart below.)

Comparison of Quichua and Chota Sanjuán Phrases
ta = short (sixteenth note)
Ta = long (eighth note)
TA = longer (quarter note)
* = short-long-short marker (sixteenth-eighth-sixteenth note pattern)
BEAT: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Quichua sanjuán phrase Ta Ta ta-Ta, ta Ta Ta TA Ta Ta ta-Ta, ta Ta Ta TA
("Muyu muyari warmigu") * *

Chota sanjuán phrase ta ta ta ta Ta Ta ta ta ta ta TA ta ta ta ta ta-Ta, ta Ta ta ta TA
("Me gusta la leche") *
BEAT: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Note the isorhythmic structure of the Quichua sanjuán phrase. The rhythm of the second half of the phrase (beats 5-8) is identical to the rhythm of the first half of the phrase (beats 1-4). However, in the Chota sanjuán the rhythm of the second half of the phrase (beats 5-8) is similar, but not identical, to the rhythm of the first half of the phrase (beats 1-4).

Differences in Quichua and Chota sanjuanes continued:
• "Me gusta la leche" has syncopation (misplaced accent) in the third strophe (verse) by accenting a normally weak part of the beat, the fourth sixteenth note of beat 6, and thereby adding a rhythmic drive that is not apparent in the Quichua sanjuán. There is different instrumentation in the two examples: harp, golpe and singer in "Muyu muyari warmigu" versus two male vocalists-guitarists, lead (requinto) guitar, and guiro (scraper) in "Me gusta la leche".
• The close geographical proximity of the two cultures, Quichua and African-Ecuadorian has led to the "sharing" of the sanjuán genre. (Note their locations on the map in Worlds of Music.)