Un Dueto (A Duet)
From: Megan Martin
Series: Llegando de los Pueblos (Arriving from the Villages)
Length: 10:45
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- Un Dueto (A Duet)
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- Megan Martin
Imagine a town where over 70% of its inhabitants are in constant transit—heading north in search of work every year. This is San Juan Mixtepec, a village located in the mountainous Mixteca Region of Oaxaca state. Amidst the constant flux in population, one family strives to retain the musical legacy of their indigenous forefathers, playing and recording chilenas, or in their language Ya 'A Sií, happy music. We travel by collective taxi out to the band’s home in Mixtepec to celebrate the inauguration of their first CD, a project sponsored by the local radio station. Through the lens of this duet we encounter the difficult juggling act—of language, music, economic necessity and culture—almost every indigenous community in Mexico must face.
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Piece Description
Imagine a town where over 70% of its inhabitants are in constant transit—heading north in search of work every year. This is San Juan Mixtepec, a village located in the mountainous Mixteca Region of Oaxaca state. Amidst the constant flux in population, one family strives to retain the musical legacy of their indigenous forefathers, playing and recording chilenas, or in their language Ya 'A Sií, happy music. We travel by collective taxi out to the band’s home in Mixtepec to celebrate the inauguration of their first CD, a project sponsored by the local radio station. Through the lens of this duet we encounter the difficult juggling act—of language, music, economic necessity and culture—almost every indigenous community in Mexico must face.
Broadcast History
Current and ongoing broadcast on XETLA, La Voz de la Mixteca, and indigenous station run by the Comisión para el Desarollo de los Pueblos Indígenas (CDI), in Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca.
Transcript
A Duet – Final Script
Ambi from the street corner fades up. We hear a car pull up to the intersection, and then pull off.
LET’S TAKE A TRIP, YOU AND ME.
Ambi fades up. We hear a car horn. Fades down and under the following.
DON’T WORRY, I’LL TAKE CARE OF THE TAXI.
We hear the collective taxi attendant shout “Mixtepec!”
COME ON, WE’RE OFF TO SAN JUAN MIXTEPEC.
We hear another “Mixtepec!” shouted from the attendant.
THE RIDE IS ABOUT AN HOUR. SO KICK BACK AS I TELL YOU A STORY.
We hear the street ambi fade up. We get in the collective taxi. We hear the driver start up the car and turn on the radio. An odd French tune plays. As this fades down and under the following narration, ambi from the village of San Juan Mixtepec fades up.
AS THE TRUCK CRESTS THE FINAL HILL WE SEE THE VILLAGE OF SAN JUAN MIXTEPEC IN THE VALLEY BELOW US.
Anderson: You see the village, you see it sunken....
Read the full transcript
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Litsi Titanku (El Aguilucho) | La Familia Bautista | Ya 'A Sií (Música Traditional). | XETLA | 2007 | 01:00 |
| Pieza Sin Nombre | La Familia Bautista (live) | Ya 'A Sií (Música Traditional). | XETLA | 2007 | 00:36 |
Additional Credits
This piece was produced in fulfillment of the Fulbright-García Robles fellowship, administered by COMEXUS.
