Archaeological evidence suggests that the ancient Aztecs maintained a school of music at Tenochtitlán, their capital city. No doubt the young musicians in training studied the pre-Hispanic instruments that we find today in the museums of Mexico, instruments like the teponaztli, a type of wood drum carved from a large tree trunk, and the quiquiztli (conch shell trumpet).

These instruments and many others will be played at a recital of pre-Hispanic music at the Teatro Santa Ana in the Biblioteca Pública.

The performing group is called Collar del Viento (the wind's necklace). The ensemble consists of six youngsters ranging in age from 11 to 18 years. They play pre-Hispanic music on replica instruments. Four members of the group have been playing together for over five years. The group is instructed by two professional Mexican musicians from Pozos, Néstor Vargas and Gonzalo Gómez.

Collar del Viento will perform in costume and face paint utilizing the traditional ritualistic effects of incense, flowers and candles. After the performance the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions and examine the instruments.

Collar del Viento Pre-Hispanic music concert
Sunday, March 5, 3pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Reloj 50
50 pesos

A musical tour of the blues

To the pleasant surprise of everyone, the first performance of The Bob and Joe Blues Show sold out in a mere three hours. Scott Masson received kudos for his hijinks with his improvised drum set, and then the show moved toward a pre-war era and Chicago sound with the addition of Ken Bichel's superb piano playing.

The rest of the evening was familiar and contemporary, and Bobby belted out some really good sounds with his unique vocals and his harmonica playing. Antonio Lozoya, considered the musical Ninja of the bass, performed some memorable solos. Joe Warner held it all together with his seasoned guitar playing and vocals.

This new show will again take you on a musical journey, exploring both the roots and contemporary expression of the blues, as well as the influence of jazz. From the Mississippi Delta through the lively jazz clubs of New Orleans, to the smoky barrooms of Chicago and into current blues and jazz, these guys will take you on a musical tour of the United States, and with alternate selections from those performed in their first show. The musicians include Bobby Kaplan, harmonica and vocals; Joe Warner, guitars and vocals; Ken Bichel, piano and keyboards; Scott Masson, drums; Antonio Lozoya, bass; and special guest Vishnu. Tickets will be sold at the theater office at 4 pm, from Monday to Friday.

The Bob and Joe Blues Show
Thursday, March 9, 8pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Reloj 50
120 pesos

José White Quartet presents Mexican, classical works
By B. K. Lake

The José White String Quartet will present two concerts featuring works ranging from composers influenced by Mexican and Latin American music to pieces by some of the best-known names in chamber music.

"The quartet is well-known and well-loved here," said Russ Archibald, president of the Pro Musica series. "They have appeared for the past four years in Pro Musica concerts, as well as having been a featured quartet in the summer festival Música de Cámara."

"Their concerts have always been standing-room-only, and they feature works by Mexican composers who are not well known to our audiences," said Archibald, who also is president of the summer festival.

Leading off the March 4 program will be "Music of the Fair" ("Música de Feria") by Silvestre Revueltas. A modernist composer, Revueltas reworked indigenous Mexican music in this 1932 composition to suggest events and characters at a fair. 

Antonin Dvorak was said to have been especially fond of his work "The Cypresses," a cycle of songs about a young man who, spurned by the maiden he loves, marries her sister. The quartet will play the first song, "I Know That on My Love to Thee."

Felix Mendelssohn, in his middle period, created what one reviewer called "a true Classical-Romantic union of satisfying formal structures and expressive melody" in works collectively titled Opus 44. The second opus will conclude the program.

The March 5 concert will begin with "Homenaje a Gismonti" by Arturo Marquez, who was born in 1950 in Alamos in Sonora state. Marquez, now living in Mexico City, was the son of a mariachi player and described his approach as combining "traditional Latin American and Mexican music with traditional or classic techniques."

A contemporary composer, Erwin Schulhoff, drew on idioms from Slav folk music when he wrote "Five Pieces for Quartet" in 1923 in his native Prague. Schulhoff alternated lively dances with slow ones, including a polka and a waltz.

The final work will be the Russian-themed Quartet Opus 59, No. 1 by Ludwig von Beethoven. The piece is one of the three "Razumovsky" quartets Beethoven was commissioned to write in 1805-1806 by a Russian prince. 

Tickets are available at Galería San Miguel, next to the Presidencia; Casa de Papel, Mesones 57; and at St. Paul's and the Chamber Music Festival office in Bellas Artes weekdays 11am- 2pm. Tickets may be reserved by calling 152-0387 weekdays from 11am-2pm and are on sale at the door one hour before concert time. For more information, consult the website at http://promusicasma.tripod.com 

José White Quartet
Saturday, March 4, and Sunday, March 5, 5pm
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Cardo 6
50/150 pesos

Koerner's Porter concert to benefit ANYEL
By Elsmarie Norby

Marianne Koerner will sing selections from Cole Porter in a benefit for the ANYEL music school for children next week. From her own experience, she knows how valuable music can be in the life of a child. Koerner grew up in the New York area surrounded by music. She learned from her mother, a very accomplished pianist, and she had a prodigy's ear and the opportunities to develop her talent.

She played the piano by ear at age three and imitated a Mozart sonata at age four. In elementary school she enjoyed composing class musicals.

At age 13, she discovered singing and studied voice and piano through high school and college. She was a soloist with a prestigious college choral group and toured Europe several times. "I was a musical snob," says Koerner. "Standards, pop and show music of the time were too easy for me. I considered it beneath my dignity because it wasn't difficult. I found the classical repertoire more challenging and interesting. I completely missed the golden age of cabaret that was happening then in New York."

While pursuing a master's degree in music education at Columbia University, Koerner attended a party given by the head of the department. She was asked to sing, at which point her host said, "Why do you want to teach? You should be singing!" She went to an audition the next day and was accepted into a group called The Master Singers. At 22 she began a career in musical performance under Columbia Artists' Management and appeared on national tours, on and off Broadway, in summer stock and on television. She was a "regular" on the Perry Como Show and the Garry Moore Show. 

In the next stage of her life, as wife, mother and teacher, Marianne met up with an old friend from theater days, a former dancer, who suggested that Marianne do her own cabaret act. "I'd rather walk over hot coals," said Marianne. "That is the scariest thing I can imagine-being exposed, naked, alone-no scenery, no costumes, no script, nobody else!" But a milestone birthday was approaching, and she said, "Why not?! It's my Mt. Everest, the hardest thing I can think of doing … and it means I can be my very own honest, imaginative, authentic self … the best I can be, even if it's not perfect!" She discovered that the process of creating her own show and being "exposed" was the greatest experience of all.

Over the years since that magical awareness of herself and her love for the genre of cabaret, Marianne has performed her original shows in many US venues and here in San Miguel. On March 11, she will again bring us an exciting event, this time with her husband and composer, Richard Koerner, as narrator. Marianne says, "The audience will discover many unknown facets of Cole Porter. He is considered the dean of the Great American Song Book, in that he was the only writer of both music and lyrics of that time. Porter's music expresses a wide array of emotions, at turns lyrical and hilarious-but always exposing the deepest levels of loving and longing. It's all about authenticity-in life, being who you are, and in singing straight from the heart."

Tickets are on sale at Casa de Papel, Mesones and Relox, La Tienda (the gift shop) in the Biblioteca Pública, or call 152-3646 to reserve. Many thanks from the teachers and children of ANYEL to Marianne and Richard for their generosity.

Marianne Koerner Sings Cole Porter
Saturday, March 11, 7:30pm
Bellas Artes Auditorium
100 pesos
A benefit for ANYEL, Escuela de Música