Wayra Kuna – English

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Traditional and Contemporary Music from the Andes

Whether as a duo, trio or sextet – WAYRA KUNA brings timeless music from the Andes to listeners of all ages. Their sound invites you to drift and dream: meditative, calm and tender – then suddenly dance-like, vivid and full of elemental energy.
Out of musical depth and vitality grows a music that touches you and stays with you. WAYRA KUNA stands for concert experiences that open space for emotion, movement and inner imagery.
A church or a pub, a small hall or a large theatre – WAYRA KUNA feels at home in many different places: at house concerts, festivals, cultural venues and museums, community spaces, cultural and meeting centres, schools, courtyards and with dedicated cultural initiatives.

Concert Duo WAYRA KUNA 2024

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Concert Sextet WAYRA KUNA 2025

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Booking & Enquiries

WAYRA KUNA can be booked – depending on the occasion and on spatial and scheduling possibilities – as a duo, trio or sextet:

info@wayrakuna.de / +49-2501-924544

WAYRA KUNA – History

In the 1970s and 1980s, WAYRA KUNA was described as “the only Central European music group that successfully made indigenous Andean music part of its program” (quoted from the homepage of Folk-Treff Münster e.V.).

From 1974 (when the musicians were only 14 years old) to 1985, they played well over 500 concerts and produced five records (LPs) – the last one together with the legendary Bolivian music group Los Ruphay.

Several detailed radio and TV broadcasts focused both on their music and on the striking phenomenon that German musicians, in many cases, interpreted indigenous Andean music in a way that felt more original than most Latin American groups active in Europe at the time. The first features were produced for WDR’s children’s radio, followed by further programs for Radio Bremen’s school broadcasts.

WAYRA KUNA means something like “Winds” or “Those with the wind” in the indigenous Quechua language – a nod to the many different small and large flutes that are still played throughout the Andes today. A myth says that the true inventor of these flutes was the wind: people listened as it elicited beautiful sounds from scattered reed and bamboo pipes – and eventually learned to do the same.

The group’s two founders, Rupprecht Weerth and Friedrich Hacheney, were first inspired by musicians and ensembles active in Europe in those years – especially from Argentina and Chile: Facio Santillan, Los Incas, Los Calchakis, Los Koyas and Uña Ramos, as well as Inti Illimani, Quilapayún and Víctor Jara. Later, they were shaped above all by Bolivian groups whose playing felt distinctly more authentic: Los Jairas, Los Ruphay and Bolivia Manta. In particular, the close friendship that continues to this day with the musicians of Ruphay helped form the musical style of Wayra Kuna over many years – a style guided, beyond commercial interests, by clear humanistic ideals and by a harmonious view of the relationship between people and nature.

With their fascination and deep love for the music and culture of the Andean peoples, Friedrich and Rupprecht soon inspired classmates and friends. Over the years, Wayra Kuna grew into an octet. Original compositions – such as the song Urpa Urpila (“Little Dove”) – also became part of the program:

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Many journeys followed, along with intensive ethnomusicological studies in South America.

A musical highlight came in 1984 and 1985: two major joint tours with Los Ruphay and the Bolivian singer Luzmila Carpio, with concerts in numerous theatres and concert halls across the German-speaking region – and the recording of the shared album Wiñay Marka – Eternal People.

A half-hour documentary film from 1984 also honours the work of WAYRA KUNA in an impressive way:

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Soon afterwards, Rupprecht and Friedrich finished their studies; work-related moves meant that their close collaboration within Wayra Kuna came to a pause.

Friedrich increasingly specialised in the Paraguayan harp and became a sought-after soloist.

Rupprecht became a permanent member of Ruphay, recording, among other projects, the 18th Ruphay album released in England A Cry For Revolution – 50 years of Los Ruphay – Earth Healing Music from Bolivia and undertaking a major Bolivia tour in 2018.

Together with cellist Hannes Trittler, Rupprecht and Friedrich also continued another special musical project between 1996 and 2002: Aka Pacha – a meeting point between Andean music and European Baroque tradition – with quena flute, cello, harp and guitar. A project that Mario Gutiérrez (leader of the group Ruphay) had begun together with Rupprecht and Hannes before his early death in 1994. A joint CD AKA PACHA – The Three Seasons (Quimsa Pachanaca) bears witness to this work.

WAYRA KUNA – Today

As Wayra Kuna’s 50th anniversary approached in 2024, Rupprecht and Friedrich decided to come together once more, just as they had begun – as a duo. Their meetings were so joyful that a versatile concert program soon emerged, combining old and new pieces. A deeply moving anniversary concert brought it vividly to life.

This inspired several former members so much that they, too, felt the desire to return. In 2025, a first concert together as a sextet took place in the monastery church in Lippoldsberg – a complete success – WAYRA KUNA is back!

Members

 

Friedrich Hacheney – Harp, Guitar, Charango
Eckart Hölzer – Charango, Bandurria, Siku
Rupprecht Weerth – Quenas, Sikus, Ukumanta, Charango
Ulrich Middeke – Quenas, Siku, Chajchas
Harold Torinus – Quenas, Siku, Guitar
Christiane Ehrenforth – Bombo, Chajchas

Former Members
Leonhard Schilde, Gerd Ballay, Christian Hegerfeld, Stefan Haselhoff, Elisabeth Weerth, Andreas Jankowiak, Sebastian Schelowsky, Harlet Tujillo, Alejandro Vega

 

Dedication

WAYRA KUNA thanks the peoples of the Andes for their living music and the cultural wisdom preserved across generations. In this spirit, the group’s intention is a respectful approach, a bridge between cultures, and an expression of connection with nature and with the cultural heritage of the Andean peoples.

 

Booking & Enquiries

WAYRA KUNA can be booked – depending on the occasion and on spatial and scheduling possibilities – as a duo, trio or sextet:

info@wayrakuna.de / +49-2501-924544