Sones de México

A List
10/4/10

Folk Musicians Sones de México Performing At St. Lawrence University

CANTON - Sones de México, a two-time Grammy-nominated ensemble specializing in the regional folk music of Mexico, will be in the Underground at St. Lawrence University on Saturday, October 9, at 8 p.m., in a performance called "Fandango! Dance Fiesta." The group will also give a lecture and demonstration on the same day, also in the Underground (Noble Center), at 4 p.m. Both events are open to the public, free of charge.

In Mexico, "son" is a term used to define a large family of regional music and dance styles. Each region has its own variety of "son," with its own repertoire, instruments, dancing and singing styles. A "fandango" is a dance fiesta where "son" is played and danced, often from sundown until sunrise, or longer.

Sones de México was formed in 1994 by experienced Mexican folk musicians and educators to keep the tradition of Mexican "son" alive, true to its roots and old masters, but current and fresh at the same time. Earlier this year the ensemble performed at Carnegie Hall and the Getty Villa Museum. About the performance, they state, "The audience should expect a set of Mexican dance music for this event, and serious dancers should come prepared with hard-heeled shoes, to do percussive dance, and a handkerchief to dance chilenas."

The lecture/demonstration, called "Beyond the Music," is described as "a musical tour of Mexico's regional folk music instruments and styles with the members of Sones de México ensemble as your guide." They will speak about what to listen for in the various regional styles, give demonstrations and take questions from the audience. It is sponsored, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Sones de México's visit to St. Lawrence is supported by the Birdsong Fund for Visiting Music Faculty.

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More: Sones de México's Web site