Music Friday

Lensic Theatre Brings to Life the Musical Spirit of New Mexico

By Celestia Loeffler, 4-20-07

There’s nothing like a night of wild strumming and singing to get a person revved up about the traditional music, and culture, of a region. And that’s precisely what will happen this Saturday at the Lensic Theater in Santa Fe—the seventh annual Nuestra Musica Hispanic folk music concert.  New Mexico is abundant with history cultural diversity, and for the past six years, Nuestra Musica has been a wonderful outlet and celebration of that fact.

The show’s producers, Jack Loeffler and Dr. Enrique Lamadrid, have been reaching into the deepest pockets of New Mexico to find the best musicians to share an authentic glimpse of the music that has held sacred Hispanic heritage throughout the last few hundred years.  They are certainly the men for the job.  Loeffler, an aural historian, radio producer and writer, has been seeking out and recording these precious cultural jewels for over 40 years.  Dr. Lamadrid’s specialties are endless, but one of his areas of expertise is the corrido tradition of Mexico.  The two, along Loeffler’s wife, Katherine, have even collaborated on a book entitled, “La Musica De Los Viejitos: Hispano Folk Music of the Rio Grande del Norte.”

For those who are unfamiliar with corridos, and other song types of this genre, such as chotiz and valse (or waltz), this is a perfect opportunity to learn while have a hootin’ good time.  But for others, probably the more mature New Mexicans in the audience, this will be like going to a rock concert to see a favorite band.

The festivities will begin at 3:00 in the afternoon in Burro Alley (just adjacent to the Lensic) where Los Comanches de la Serna will perform traditional ceremonial songs and dances specific to the cultural blend between Hispano and Comanche Indian.  This part of the event is free to the public, and is amazing to watch.

Then at 7 pm, the bands will begin to play. Four musical groups are scheduled for the event.  La Familia Vigil, a trio who specializes in the music of this region, is comprised of renowned folk musician, Cipriano Vigil, his son Cipriano Jr. and his daughter, Felicita.  Vigil is said to be one of the greatest folk musicians ever to have emerged from New Mexico.  Born in Chamisal, NM, Vigil first learned to play traditional music by listening to older musicians.  Since then, he has received a doctorate in Ethnomusicology, and knows how to play more than fifty instruments, including, and I’ve seen him do it, a saw.

Another band, called El Trio Jalapeño is one my personal favorites.  Try and imagine a spicy hot octogenarian who wears sequins and plays the accordion.  She exists.  Her name is Antonia Apodaca, and she will call you things like “jita” and “sweetie,” and, if you are lucky, she’ll even invite you to her house to eat tortillas.  She and her fellow musicians Ray Casias and Bernardo Jaramillo know how to get a party going.  They will be followed by Frank McCulloch y Sus Amigos, and Ramón and Lydia, all of whom will make this an evening abundant with tradition, culture and entertainment.

What I love about this event is that it brings so many people together, a bit like an instant extended family.  Plus, you never know what to expect—one year I heard Nacho Quiñones sing a satirical ballad called “El Corrido de George Bush,” that had everyone’s bellies aching with laughter.  But my favorite part is the encore, when all of the performers gather together on stage and invite the audience to sing “De Colores,” a traditional ballad that is a celebration of joy of all creation.  It is a wonderful experience.

There is so much culture embedded in music.  Really, the two are inextricable.  That’s why it is so important that music be preserved, preformed and enjoyed, so that it doesn’t get lost throughout time. 

The event is being sponsored by the Lensic Performing Arts Center and the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, and is being funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.  Tickets for the concert portion of the show are only $10, and are free to seniors over 65.  For ticket info and purchase, contact the Lensic Theater at (505) 988-1234 or visit their website at www.lensic.com.  But do it soon, because tickets are sure to sell out.

Like this story? Get more! Sign up for our free newsletters.