Weeks 7-8: Update

La China Poblada

Good class el jueves pasado--many of the pieces were excellent. You can all see how that animates the evenings. And I liked the way we were able to weave don Octavio into the discussion. I hope you'll consider what was said. Another point: there's so much to cover (or so much we might cover) that references come up in passing (like the way Joakina told us about Chris Strachwitz Arhoolie Records archive--which led me to tell you about la tejana (tex-mex) classica, Lydia Mendoza. That's the kind of thing you need to make note of (write down the names) and follow up on later. I'll include the following as a follow-up. Notes on where we're going (this coming week) are below.

Here's a taste Lydia Mendoza:  
Lydia Mendoza - Ojitos Verdes - YouTube
LYDIA MENDOZA - MUJER PASEADA - YouTube

Here by contrast, música norteña (de lado de México):
los alegres de teran - los ojos de pancha - YouTube

Same for la China Poblada -- mito y historia y imagenes...

____________


THIS COMING WEEK:

PROJECT. I know some of you interpreted my last week's post as "do two for last night." So, take a new theme--based on las canciones viejas (mejor dicho, canciones "clásicas"). Look into the letra, and their stories--and the artists who perform them. Will take you to some good places--but you need to dig a little... not just go for the most obvious. (They all have back-stories--La Paloma, for example.)

Main thing: I want to look carefully at La Barca de Guyamas (see last post). You can chose to work with this as a theme. (Would make interesting contrast with Cruz de olvido.) I know some of you already did projects from la Barca (bravo!)--in which case you can branch out. I'll leave this open. Others, try it for this week. Remember, there are many variant versions as far as letra--each with a slightly different meaning. What are the key images--las imagenes clave--that give the song its depth?

Pedro Infante, Linda Ronstadt (arr. Ruben Fuentes), Miguel Aceves Mejias, and many others--plus a version in Vicente T. Mendoza's book. Cantamos la version de Pedro Infante.

The Cuarteto Coculense (early Mariachi)  recordings are another possibility. I DO want you to listen carefully. You may chose this as your project theme. Remember that the general idea for these two weeks is to compare las canciones viejas ("clásicas")  y las del pueblo.

READING. Do the next chapter in don Octavio--De la independencia a la revolución). For some of you, this will make important reading, for others perhaps less. But you should all know where he takes these ideas about "positivismo" and how they represent a break with Mexico's past.  Y como otra vez se desafiáron en tiempos de la revolución... With Spring Break, we'll move on top other sources--México Profundo included--but Octavio Paz will remain a touchstone.

ATTENDANCE. Hey, I expect everyone in class. Remember what I told you on Thursday!!!
(Three of you excepted, as arranged prior. Everyone else, be there!)