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Incantation (British band)

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Incantation
OriginLondon, England
Years active1981–present
Past membersTony Hinnigan
Mike Taylor
Forbes Henderson
Simon Rogers
Chris Swithinbank
Claudia Figuerora
Sergio Avila
Mauricio Venegas

Incantation are a musical group playing traditional tribal and other South American music.[1] The band started in 1981 from a pool of musicians who were, at the time, playing all kinds of different types of music for the (then) Ballet Rambert, based in London. A new ballet was choreographed (called "Ghost Dances") about political oppression in South America, to the music of Inti-Illimani, the exiled Chilean folk group. The company preferred to use live musicians (rather than tapes) for performances, and six of the musicians volunteered.

Authentic instruments were procured, and some time was spent perfecting how to play them. The show was a hit and before long the band was offered a recording contract by Coda Records, a subsidiary of Beggars Banquet Records.[1] Incantation was chosen as the band's name, based on the word "Inca".

Members of the various incarnations of the band include Tony Hinnigan (Scottish), Mike Taylor (Irish), Forbes Henderson (English), Simon Rogers (English), Chris Swithinbank, and Chileans Claudia Figuerora, Sergio Avila and Mauricio Venegas.[1] They achieved success in the UK Singles Chart in 1982 with the top twenty hit "Cacharpaya (Andes Pumpsa Daesi)".[2] They later contributed the traditional instruments (including pan pipes) to the soundtracks of the films Willow and Field of Dreams (both scored by James Horner), as well as The Mission (scored by Ennio Morricone) and A Handful of Dust (scored by George Fenton).[1]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Album UK
[2][3]
Certifications
1982 On the Wing of a Condor
Cacharpaya (Panpipes of the Andes) 9
1983 Dance of the Flames 61
1984 Virgins of the Sun
1987 The Meeting
1992 On Gentle Rocks
1994 Songs for the Seasons
1995 Incantation[1]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Compilation albums

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Year Album UK
[2][3]
Certifications
1985 Best of Incantation - Music from the Andes 28
1996 The Very Best of Incantation
1998 Geoglyph (The Very Best of Incantation)
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Singles

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Year Song UK
[3][6]
1982 "Cacharpaya (Andes Pumpsa Daesi)" 12
1983 "Sikuriadas"
"Canarios" (EP)
1984 "Pipe Dance (Congalongadingdong)"
1987 "Scarborough Fair"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (2003). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 259. ISBN 1-85227-969-9.
  2. ^ a b c Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 268. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ^ a b c "INCANTATION - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Incantation - Cacharpaya (Panpipes of the Andes)". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Incantation - Best of Incantation Music from the Andes". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Incantation Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
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