Rage Against The Machine (http://www.spunk.org/texts/places/mexico/sp001836.html)

As you all know Matt and I did our report last week on how RATM is advancing the Zapatista movement. In an exclusive interview the lead singer of the group, which we spoke about in our report, speaks about the Zapatista movement. All the information was very helpful in giving us a better understanding of why they have dedicated alot of there music to the movement. Alot of people may say that they support a certain group and things like that but RATM has proven time and time again that they are the movement. Time energy and effort goes into to everything they do for the movement. In other words they walk the walk, talk the talk, and practice what they preach. Tell me what you think of the Interview.

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.maph49.galeon.com/avandaro/gloriarios.html&ei=mbzBTcDGFcS10QGZ4YS3Cg&sa=X&o

When I first decided to do my assignment I was very surprised to not be able to find alot of information on her. Most of the information I found was based on an article that was translated into english. It has some good information on her including movies she did and also some of her personal life and relationships. It is a very good source of info. It maybe a little confusing cause the google trans. into a he sometime instead of a she. Other than that everything else is straight forward. Enjoy the article.

Subcomandante Marcos in song...

Here is a Manu Chao song that uses Marcos's speeches as lyrics. A YouTube used helpfully provides comments and English translation. Interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OvUbG5d9PU&feature=related

Next I am sure we will see Marcos being AutoTuned!

Juan Reynoso

As a violinist myself, I am always drawn to solo violin rep. from other countries. Juan Reynoso was born in 1912 in Tierra Caliente, Michoacan and Guerrero, Mexico. He began playing the violin at age seven, however, he never learned to read music. Throughout his career, he has had an enormous repertoire, all of which has been self-composed. None of this music as ever been written down though! His music encompasses a variety of genres including "sones, pasodobles, danzones and polkas" but he prefers "gusto, a Mexico dance with a great rhythmic beat". He is often known as the Paganini of Mexico.

When listening to some of his playing online, I can definitely see a connection to American bluegrass and fiddle music. In terms of the playing style, there are definite similarities. There is a lot of sliding form one pitch to another, just as you would find in fiddle music. Also the bowing style is similar, in that it is very legato and carefree.

Here are some really great youtube videos of his playing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR9IFQHRK8o&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNXYhjEr3dM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I5I1fOcE_8&feature=related

“RAGE” COLUMBIAN LECTURE

On April 13^th, Rage Against the Arts Gallery presented a lecture and film on Columbia in South America and the cultural and economic climate of the country. Since the 1990s, the military has waged war against the peoples who live there. The military took control of the roads leading in & out of the town so the people couldn’t get food and they massacred people.

The people are peaceful and do not want military action. They do not want to live in a military conflict zone so seventy families moved to the country. The film showed them playing corridos. They wanted a better life so in 1997 signed a declaration of peace and moved to build a new peace community.

San José de Apartadó is an economically rich area in which the guerrillas, military, USA , and Europe are interested in. There is conflict there with drugs because of its close proximity to the Caribbean. But violence continued. People disappeared, were forcibly displaced, economically deprived, raped, tortured, and imprisoned. The military police burned their homes and they had to live under tarps. IN 14 years, 19 human rights violations occurred, 198 were dead of the 1000 who signed the declaration of peace. The people do not believe in arms and they will not submit to the military so they are being assassinated. In March 2010, people were murdered and the bodies were left to be eaten by animals. The police blame the people for the massacre.

The people have been driven off their ranches to live in the forests. Life in the community is one of solidarity: to reconstruct their culture, homes, and farms. They are trying to stay together and resist war. They are 8 hours from civilizations. These 50 families have built health centers and schools. The massacres continue. The slaughter children and cut them up. No action has ever been taken against the military even though they have admitted now to the killings.

The question now is: Can a peaceful way of living be created? Can it be done? San José de Apartadó is now a famous place where people come to show solidarity; they are trying to keep alive and keep alive their memories. They are building a monument out of stones for all who have died. They have symbolic ceremonies for those who have died. They have built an educational community with teachers who have their own curriculum. They have an agricultural economy where they grow food, without the aid of pesticides, for themselves and for export. Their goal is to achieve autonomy.

Billboard Regional Mexican Music Summit, 2009

Every year, BMI puts on their Noche Mexicana music showcase in California. It features the most influential regional Mexican songwriters, producers and performers. The ones included in 2009 (which was one of the only ones I could find good information on) are the following: La Santa Cecilia, Cesar Brizuela, Hermanos Herrera, Oliver Ochoa, Santos Diablito and Larry Hernandez. I'll discuss some of the musicians, but I would really recommend visiting the site and checking out some of their music.

La Santa Cecilla is what they describe as the "modern-day creative hybrid". The band is from L.A. and is a total of six members. They are known for comining Cumbia and Bossa Nova with the Bolero and Tango, as well as adding in Afro-Cuban percussion with jazzy trumpet tunes. I think that this is one type of music that will continue to become extremely popular both in Mexico as well as the United States. Often times, people get bored with music that they consider to be "traditional" and are looking for something new. By mixing all of these different styles and genres, La Santa Cecilla is definitely creating something that sounds new. Although their styles may be knew, they do have some musical examples that are very well known. Take a listen to Strawberry Fields on their myspace music page.

Here's the link to the article I was referring to: http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/539532

Gangs and Musicians in Mexico

After searching the internet for some more recent news articles, I found a rather interesting one from 2007 ( a little dated, I know). The article discussed a very serious issue in Mexico that directly affects musicians living in the country. Over the past year and a half, approximately thirteen Mexican musicians have been killed. One of the only things that these musicians have in common is the fact that they all make music that falls into the genre of grupero, which is similar to country. The lyrics often deal with drugs and crime, however, some of the others are simply love songs. Police in the area feel that these crimes are the work of gang members in the area, however, they do not have any evidence or real motives. Several other musicians bodies have turned up, after being what seems to both tortured and strangled. Police have stated that "some victims may not have direct gang ties; they simply touch some nerve with their songs".

As a result of these killings, many musicians in Mexico have been cancelling their concerts. They fear that they too will be captured and killed by members of a gang. What does this mean for popular music in Mexico? If musicians are fearing their lives because of the music they are making, perhaps they will stop making music altogether. More likely, they will probably take their music underground and will not publicize themselves or their music. This would be truly devastating for the people of Mexico and the rest of the world. Any thoughts?