El Cucú
Traditional Peruvian Folk Song
Arranged by Ollie Lambert
8-parts - SSAATTBB
El Cucú seems to have no traceable origins, but has been a popular lullaby in Latino communities for centuries. Ollie’s arrangement opens with a soundscape of insect and animal noises reminiscent of the Amazon rainforest. It is believed that the song was brought to Peru either by Spanish colonisers sometime between 1700 and 1836, or by the thousands of French migrants who arrived in the 19th century. The same song exists in France under the title Dans la Forêt Lointaine and is a good example of the overlapping of culture in continental Europe. The word play of this version suggests French origins - “coucou” is not only the cuckoo’s noise in French but also a familiar way to greet someone.
