A group of more than 20 children of immigrants from the Mexican state of Oaxaca have become the newest members of the "Xochixtepec" band that aims to claim the legacy of their ancestors and to preserve their musical cultural inheritance, an effort that takes on more importance for younger generations who are further removed from their families' natives land.
Members of the local immigrant community welcomed the new band — which features members ranging from nine to 19 in age — in a recent celebration, greeting them as professional musicians and representatives of indigenous Oaxacan culture in Los Angeles. The latest edition of Xochixctepec is led by 17-year-old Ernesto Cruz, at student at Hamilton High School in West Los Angeles professionally. He will oversee the youngsters as they continue a tradition that started with 15 musical immigrants in Los Angeles in 1976, a group of performers who are now well known in Los Angeles, including Silvano Morales, Basilio Hilario, Avelino Martinez, Antonio Hilario, among others.
Prior director Luis Hilario recently handed the Xochixtepec baton to Cruz, who says he took on the challenge to help his family and community maintain ties to their traditions.
"It was a serious decision because there is a lot of much responsibility for me," Cruz says. "But I decided to take it because there are some cousins in the band, and because I wanted the children top learn the music of our culture."
Cruz says he's seen the younger generations of Oaxacans in Los Angeles begin to lose interest in traditional music the band plays.
"They have different interests, in basketball, others in other things," he says. "There are young people in gangs, and we want to see them avoid the gangs. So we made the time for to work with them on the music, and that is a good thing."
The young band members began their preparations in late 2007, and started taking classes in music theory and hold practice sessions in Ferf theory of music and with their practices early this year.
Cruz says the progress has been rapid, and the youth version of Xochixtepec are ready to play along with adults.
Support from the community has helped, according to Cruz, and so has the interest of the the adult Xochixtepec band, including director Camilo Cruz and treasurer Vicente Pablo.
"We are ready to receive to the children, for that we prepared this program to bless the children and their instruments and to make a plan for the transition," says Pablo.
The launch of the youth band is particularly well-timed to serve the Oaxacan community, according to Pablo, who says that the young musicians will be ready to fill a gap on local cultural scene in early October, when many of their adult counterparts travel to Oaxaca itself for a tradition celebration.
Cruz says he's also pleased to have a girl among the youth band, hopeful that the addition will open minds among listeners and doors for future female participants.
"The band began with all men, so a lot of parents think that music only is for the men," says.
Photos by Impulso
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