Music essay

Week 8 Son de arpa grande, Son jalisciense, Canción Cardenche

Son de Arpa Grande (Son of Big Harp)

Also known as son Planeco, Son Terracalenteño from Michoacán

Musicians: not a fixed number, the classic group is formed by six musicians: two violinists, a vihuela player, a guitarra de golpe player and two players for the harp (one to play the harp and the other one to drum on it).

Lyrics: traditional coplas are sung.

Style of singing is very open, at full voice. Tierra Caliente

Play from 1:21 to 2:30

La Media Calandria

A yellow calender dropped its feathers, women pay badly not all one by one ... (Bis) A yellow calender dropped its feathers, women pay badly not all one by one ... There is ra ra ra ra ra A yellow calender shows the copete, if you don't want to talk to me I pay you and give you edging. (Bis) A yellow calender shows the copete, if you don't want to talk to me I pay you and give you edging. There is ra ra ra ra

Son Jalisciense (also known as Son de Mariachi)

Play 0:29-2:29

Gabriel Moedano (1939–2005) was an ethnomusicologist that started to recover recordings from indigenous groups, INAH (Instituto Nacional de Arqueologia e Historia).

La Burra, Mariachi Alcaraz

Further research INAH: https://mediateca.inah.gob.mx/islandora_74/i slandora/object/disco%3A10

Recordings made 1974–75 Mariachi Alcaraz

Spanish Vihuela vs Mexican Vihuela/Jarana Jarocha The vihuela is a 15th-century fretted plucked Spanish string instrument, shaped like a guitar (with a flat back) but tuned like a lute. It was used in 15th- and 16th-century Spain as the equivalent of the lute in Italy and has a large resultant repertory. There were usually five or six doubled strings or courses. In its most developed form, the Spanish vihuela was a guitar-shaped instrument with six double-strings (paired courses) made of gut. Vihuelas were tuned identically to their contemporary Renaissance lute; 4ths and mid-3rd (44344, almost like a modern guitar tuning, with the exception of the third string, which was tuned a semitone lower).

Although the Mexican vihuela/Jarana Jarocha has the same name as the historic Spanish plucked string instrument, the two are distinct. The Mexican vihuela usually has five strings and a vaulted (convex) backs. The Mexican vihuela is tuned similarly to the guitar.

Lute + Oud The name lute generally refers to a plucked string musical instrument with a neck (either fretted or unfretted) and a deep round back. More specifically it applies to an instrument from the family of European lutes. The European lute and the modern Near-Eastern oud both descend from a common ancestor via diverging evolutionary paths. The lute's distinctive shape and name are both derived from the Arabic instrument the 'ud, from al'ud meaning "the wood", this perhaps referring to the wooden soundboard.

The oud, as a fundamental difference with the western lute, has no frets and a smaller neck.

Canto or Canción Cardenche Canto/Canción Cardenche is a unique tradition from northern Mexico in the La Laguna region. This is a semi deserted region where people often migrate a lot. Canto Cardenche emerged in isolated towns in this area in late 19th century. It is practiced almost exclusively by men. Usually it was performed after work, while having drinks.

This tradition is sung a cappella by usually 3-4 voices. With different registers; deep/low, mid and high. It is very melancholic. In Canto Cardenche the voices sing in quasi unison, almost together. There is lots of glissando movement between notes.

Glissando is a technique of moving from one note to another by sliding smoothly up or down between them. Check out this general example of vocal glissando (first 17 seconds) https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/glissando-singing-lesson/

The topic of farewell is a common topic within the Canto Cardenche tradition.

Sadly, this tradition has almost disappeared. It is mostly sung by older generations and unfortunately less and less people are performing it. There are currently some younger generation musicians who have taken it up, but not enough yet. Fortunately, it is gaining more renown through recordings and touring of the vocal ensemble Los Cardencheros de Sapioriz. Recently, musicians from other traditions have been very inspired by this unique genre and have reached out or adapted aspects from this tradition.

Cardenche is a type of Cactus with a lot of thorns. So name is related to the pain of this fruit/plant. Is a metaphor for love and pain and human sorrow. This tradition really accomplishes this task of capturing human sorrow in music.

Yo ya me voy a morir a los desiertos I'm leaving Yo ya me voy To die to the deserts, A morir a los desiertos, I'm going directed. Me voy dirigido. That sea star Esa estrella marinera Just thinking, Sólo en pensar, That I'm far from my land Que ando lejos de mi tierra I just remember they give me Nomás que me acuerdo me dan Desire to cry. Ganas de llorar. But they don't amuse me Pero a mi no me divierten The dahlia cigars, Los cigarros de la Dalia, But they don't console me Pero a mi no me consuelan

Those glasses of brandy, Esas copas de aguardiente, Just thinking that I left Sólo en pensar que dejé A pending love, Un amor pendiente I just remember they give me Nomás que me acuerdo me dan Desire to cry. Ganas de llorar. But they don't amuse me Pero a mi no me divierten The dahlia cigars, Los cigarros de la Dalia, But they don't console me Pero a mi no me consuelan Those glasses of brandy, Esas copas de aguardiente, Just thinking that I left Sólo en pensar que dejé A pending love, Un amor pendiente,

I just remember they give me Nomás que me acuerdo me dan Desire to cry. Ganas de llorar.

Los Cardencheros de Sapioritz Yo ya me voy amigos míos

‘Farewell, Dear Friends’

Yo ya me voy amigos míos, ‘Farewell, Dear Friends

I'm leaving now my friends

Here I leave them

And here I leave them

With a flower in hand.

I remembered

Of my brothers

That they are far away

That they are far away

Give me your blessing

I'm going to board

My parents say

Look son don't go

Don't you see me

The tears in my eyes?

I remembered my brothers

Those others

Give me your blessing

I'm going to board

My parents say

Look son don't go

Don't you see me

The tears in my eyes?

I remembered my brothers

Those others

Give me your blessing

I'm going to board

Cajon continuation... Wood for cajones

https://www.cajonsmadein.com/the-best-wood-for-cajon.html

How to build a cajon?

https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Cajon