Mexico: Fiestas of Chiapas and Oaxaca [Original recording remastered]

Nonesuch Explorer Series (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 15, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 1966
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B0000A0WJ9
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #272,107 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #93 in Music > Latin Music > Regional Mexican > Conjunto

Track Listings

1. Son Sventa N'Ahual San Lorenzo [Song for Our Lord San Lorenzo]

2. El Chinito

3. Bats'i Son Martomail [True Song for the Churchkeeper]

4. La Jota

5. Son Sventa Ch'ul Na [Song for the Church]

6. Valse Chiapañecas

7. K'in Sventa Ch'ul Me'tik Kwadulupe [Festival for the Holy Mother ...]

8. Son Sventa Cajvaltic [Song for Our Lord]

9. Christmas in Oaxaca

10. Nuoco

11. Son Alegre [Happy Tune]

12. Carreta de Flores [The Flower Cart]

13. Cantares de Mi Tierra [I Sing of My Country]

14. Danza de la Malincha

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Music of the people of southern México..., October 2, 2005

By 

ewomack "ewomack" (MN USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Mexico: Fiestas of Chiapas and Oaxaca (Audio CD)

This CD contains amazing field recordings made in the very southern Mexican states of Chiapas and Oaxaca. Many of the tracks come from festivals, rituals, or performances in public squares. Some highlight ancient musical traditions (of the Mayans) conjoined with the music of the Spanish Conquistadores. The recordings give the feeling of taking part in the festivals. People sing, yell, shout, talk, and laugh in the background. Some tracks have fireworks going off in them. In others church bells or other daily sounds of southern México ring out. This music comes right from the source. None of it is staged or altered to make it more "palatable" for people accustomed to highly processed music. It is raw and real.

Nonesuch originally released this album on vinyl way back in 1976. This issue represents at least the second re-release on CD (the first CD release happened in 1991). So the album really represents the festivals of Chiapas and Oaxaca from thirty years ago. Now the music also takes on a historical dimension.

"Ñuoco" and "Cantares de mi tierra" both contain incredible guitar playing and singing. "Bats'i Son Martomail", recorded in the town of Zinacantan, features both mournful and joyous wailing violins and singers. Apart from these incredible standout tracks, the CD includes great examples of music played with flute, marimba, drum, harp, and tortoise shell struck with deer antlers. Some songs evoke the mood of festivals. Others seep with religious devotion. All present great examples of music from extreme southern México.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, September 21, 2004

By 

J. Marquez (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mexico: Fiestas of Chiapas and Oaxaca (Audio CD)

If you like folk music, this CD has some real gems including Nuoco (an elusive Chilena), Cantares de Mi Tierra (a nice Istmeno waltz similar to La Llorona), an eerie & very musical recording of people praying in an Indigenous language & several catchy Drum & Flute sones.