Flor de Piña & La Llorona
Recorded live on May 19, 2007 at the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.
"Flor de Piña" (Pineapple Blossom) is a Oaxacan instrumental introduction played with a fife and drum followed by a 'tutti' with strings, horns and percussion.
"La Llorona" (The Weeping Woman) is a popular song from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in the State of Oaxaca, Mexico, that references a mythical/ghostly woman whose soul wanders in penance. The lyrics are in the popular domain and they vary from one version to another, but generally they speak of sadness or an unattainable love. The version on this video figuratively speaks of death "I don't know what it is with the flowers in the cemetery: when they sway in they seem to be weeping" and "They say I do not mourn, because they don't see me cry: the dead are silent, and yet their sorrow is much greater than mine."
The actual folk legend of La Llorona tells the story of a woman who cries for her dead children. In some versions she has killed the children herself to spite her lover.
The studio version of this song was released by Sones de Mexico Ensemble on the GRAMMY Nominated CD "Esta Tierra Es Tuya (This Land Is Your Land)" in 2007.
This live performance features Juan Dies-lead vocal/bass, Juan Rivera-violin/vocal, Zacbe Pichardo-marimba, Victor Pichardo-marimba & reed flute, Lorena Iñiguez-vihuela, Javier Saume-drums. Special guests: Victor Garcia-trumpet, Carlos Vega-saxophone, and John Dorsch-trombone from the CALJE (Chicago Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble). PRODUCTION: Alan Thatcher (video shoot), Jeremy Williams (sound mix), Javier Vargas (editing).