From the director of THE OTHER SIDE OF IMMIGRATION, comes A MEXICAN SOUND, a new documentary that goes deep into La Huasteca—a majestic region of north/central-east Mexico—to explore the wonders of a little known style of music called son huasteco, the people who love it most, and the musicians who are keeping the style alive. Coming fall 2012.

A MEXICAN SOUND / UN SON MEXICANO

A MEXICAN SOUND celebrates Mexico and it’s people by telling the story of a little known style of music called son huasteco. Son huasteco (pronounced SOWN wha-STEAK-oh) is played in a majestic region of Mexico called La Huasteca (pronounced LA wha-STEAK-uh). Located in the central-east/northeast part of the country, La Huasteca is a nature lover’s paradise. Lush, green, and mountainous. Caves, natural pools, and waterfalls dot the landscape. The Huastecan people are kind and hospitable. Son huasteco (also referred to as “Huapango” by many people, especially locals) has a very intense and joyful sound. The music is built around rapid violin flourishes, falsetto singing, and the driving rhythms of two special guitars (the jarana huasteca and the quinta huapanguera). It’s a huge sound for just three musicians. In live performances, an additional rhythmic element is added when people stomp and dance on a huge wooden platform called a tarima. Anytime there's son huasteco, there's a party.

Recordings of son huasteco are great to listen to, but the music takes on a completely different quality when it’s played live. The stomping of dancers brings a rhythmic element to the music that can’t be replicated in a recording studio. It’s also very spontaneous. Son huasteco musicians are known for improvising and making up lyrics on the spot when playing at parties and festivals. They poke fun at people in the audience, reference people or places everyone knows, or make up colorful jokes—anything to get a laugh or reaction from the crowd. Check out this example of improvisation by Los Camperos de Valles during a spontaneous performance I filmed at a small party last summer in Ciudad Valles, Mexico. Notice the reactions of the party-goers as Goyo and Marcos sing their verses after the 2:15 mark.

A MEXICAN SOUND will take you on a journey to La Huasteca to listen to and learn about son huasteco music, to introduce you to the people who love it most, and to give you a window into the lives of the musicians who play it and keep it alive. The film will introduce you to Los Camperos de Valles, which many people consider to be the best son huasteco group ever. You’ll meet small-time musicians who make a living playing son huasteco at parties in the villages and in the hole-in-the-wall bars in small towns. You’ll meet a couple who fell in love while dancing to son huasteco. You’ll meet a man from a town called Xilitla who has started the longest running, weekly son huasteco festival in history. You’ll meet the husband-and-wife team that founded Discos Corason, a record company that has been making quality recordings of son huasteco music for 40 years. And maybe most importantly, you’ll meet a new generation of young people from the Huasteca who are keeping this music alive and making it all their own.

100. (c)2012 Roy Germano Films                                    contact rg@roygermano.com for info & press
     

                                                                   booking@roygermano.com for speaking engagements

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