20.8.10

Son Jarocho

 
Tlen-Huicani - Jarocho

Tracks:

01. El Jarocho
02. La Bruja
03. La Sarna
04. El Balaju
05. El Toro Requeson
06. Tlacotalpan
07. El Colas
08. El Gavilancito
09. Nicolasa
10. El Jarabe Loco
11. La Tuza
12. El Guapo
13. La Bamba
14. El Aguanieve
15. El Jaqueton
16. El Borracho
17. La Vieja
18. El Fandanguito
19. El Zacamandu-Toro Abajeño
20. La Risa
21. El Buscapies
22. El Trompo
23. El Huapanguito
24. Arpista Veracruzano
  
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From the capital city of Veracruz, Jalapa, Tlen-Huicani (pronounced wee-KAH-ne) is one of the most faithful interpreters of the traditional folk music of that state and also that of much of Latin America.

Tlen-Huicani, which means "the singers" in the indigenous Indian language of Nahuatl, has taken the beautiful "harpa jarocha" or folk harp, and has made it the centerpiece of their music.

Founded in 1973, the group was named best folk group in Mexico by the union of music and theater critics. Group director, Alberto de la Rosa, is one of the most respected musicians in all of Mexico, and is considered among the most outstanding folk harpists in the world.  In 2003 the group celebrated another landmark, when they completed 30 years of unforgettable music.

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What is the current state of the son jarocho? While the roots of the son jarocho are in southern Veracruz, those who have decided to earn a living as jarocho musicians have for the past sixty years found it more profitable to leave Veracruz for Mexico city  or other tourist areas. Ensembles such as "Conjunto Tierra Blanca" , founded in the 1950's and directed by Marios Barradas Murcia,  have earned a living playing their native music and many of these urban jarocho ensembles have not only traveled throughout the world and recorded various albums but have also taught hundreds of students abroad how to play the son jarocho in University workshops and in school's such as Mexico city's "Escuela de la Muscia Mexicana". Although the  traditional manner of transmitting the son jarocho from generation to generation is common, the aspect of  teaching  the son jarocho to students in an academic setting is new and  a vibrant new part of the son jarocho tradition.

In Xalapa, Veracruz the Universidad Veracruzana is the home of Grupo Tlen-Huicani and its director, Prof. Alberto de la Rosa, who has had a great influence in promoting the  preservation of the son jarocho and Latin American folk music. For over 35 years, Tlen-Huicani has remained one of the most faithful interpreters of the traditional folk music of Veracruz, Mexico and most of Latin America. Since 1973, their music and international achievements have earned them the honor of 'Best Folk Group in Mexico' by the Union of Music and Theater Critics.

Another wave of preservation called the "Movimiento Jaranero" began in the late 1970's which saw contemporary ensembles who had developed a style from the more commercial urban ensembles in the 1940's as steering away too much from its roots. These "renovadores" have concentrated on preserving the fandango setting (the traditional celebratory environment of the son jarocho) such as at the annual "Encuentro de Jaraneros" in Tlacotalpan, Veracruz. The movimiento stresses the Afro-caribbean aspects of the son jarocho and at the head of this movement is grupo Mono Blanco who since 1978 has recorded various albums, traveled throughout the world, and conducted various workshops and conferences concentrating on their unique style of the son jarocho. Although commercialization and the birth of the professional musician has had an effect on the son jarocho tradition in Veracruz , the age old folk tradition of playing the son jarocho as a pastime is still alive and well. While we will always have the commercial recordings of professional groups such as Medellin, Tlalixcoyan, Tlen-huicani and others, there are hundreds of musicians throughout southern Veracruz who are unknown and continue a tradition which is over two hundred years old.



Thanks Ana for the music!
  

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