Temple Of The Sun

In the ancient capital city of Cuzco, the Incas dedicated the most magnificent monument of their vast empire to the sun god. Covered with sheets of gold, the temple of Coricancha was as impressive as the deity for whom it was built. For centuries it remained a beacon for pilgrims who traveled from the farthest reaches of the Incan kingdom to witness and assist in the daily ceremonies of Coricancha's priests.

Like the edifice itself, which was plundered and stripped of its golden treasures when the Spanish arrived, the music of those primeval rites has since been lost. The members of Inkuyo, however, have a good idea of how it might have sounded. In Temple of the Sun, they have reconstructed the sounds of festivals hinted at in the myths, memories, and indigenous instruments of the Andean people. These musicians have resurrected the magic and brilliance of the Inca's most venerated temple.

Temple of the Sun does not plunge right into the past. The thirteen selections are designed to take listeners back thoughtfully and joyfully through a combination of modern compositions inspired by the land and its people and traditional songs and dances collected during the band's travels through the Andes. When Inkuyo finally delves into the ancient legacy of Coricancha, their musical reconstructions of Incan antiquity seem logical to listeners as well. Most importantly, Inkuyo has created a portrait of the Inca's past glory that comes to life through the spirit of the people who inhabit the region today.