The here and now... and what and why

Complacency is a trap. At least that’s what I was thinking when I up and left the comfort of a Yankee prep school gig, where I taught music, amongst other things, for 28 years. There was also that life long career as a composer, musician and artist.

First, it was a year in St. Thomas, USVI, working as a reporter and shooting photography and then, a year in San Agustin Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Time passed.
More time passed and a year back in the Athens of America followed by a hasty return to Oaxaca where it is all happening.
A couple of years in San Sebastian Etla and now, just down the road in San Pablo Etla. Life is good.

Click on an image to see it larger.
For additional photography please visit my flickr page.
You can find my music on Jango (World & latin - Worldbeat) and at iTunes and most online stores.
¡Soy consciente de todas las tradiciones del Internet!
If you are coming to Oaxaca, please contact me for tours or advice.

Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo
The view from Corazon del Pueblo

The hereafter re me

My photo
Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
Musician, photographer, videographer, reporter, ex-officio teacher, now attempting to be a world traveler

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Tubas of Oaxaca

Man, I love these guys.  I have taken to filming them whenever I get the chance.  All the tuba players I have met have a certain aura around them.  They are almost always strong personalities, friendly and happy to aggressively show their chops.  I have seen them go head to head when bands meet, each trying to outdo the last guy.  They carry on wonderful conversations with their instruments.  With competing bands, the conversation is not always filled with niceties.  Kinda like a "your mother is so ugly" contest.  And they can swear with their horns, too.  I've heard it.  Enjoy!

4 comments:

Peter (the other) said...

Glorious stuff. I am always so impressed by both the natural sense of intonation and phrasing rhythm. Clearly to me, this is music in a most natural use, a tool of social affect entrainment. And it also makes me ponder the golden liquid Bohemian bridge to the Balkans.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the tubas! My friend from Etla, who is in the US for one year, is coming to my Chicago house for Thanksgiving. She misses Oaxaca and her family so much. I am going to play the tubas for her and hope it brings a smile.

Joan

Christopher Stowens said...

Yes, this is pretty pure music with good rhythmic things happening. The Balkans have it as well. With the Vista Hermosa band, they had already been playing 12 hours w/ a few mezcals, no doubt.

@Joan - Of course, it will bring a smile to her face. How could it not?

La Cubanófila said...

Interesting state of affairs:


http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/12/12/143572855/what-a-sour-note-thieves-target-tubas-in-southern-california

Saludos, Jody