Posted on Jul 10, 2023
Conjunto music enjoys a resurgence, bridging a divide between old and new musicians
967
6
2
4
4
0
https://www.npr.org/2023/07/10/ [login to see] /conjunto-music-texas-resurgence
The southern subtropics of Texas, known as the Rio Grande Valley, is a geographically and culturally distinct part of the Lone Star State — as much Mexican as Texan — with its own soundtrack. Conjunto has a thumping backbeat, plaintive vocals and shimmering accordion riffs. This century-old music has been growing among a new generation of young musicians.
Conjunto (pronounced con-HOON-toh) is now offered as a fine-arts band credit in at least a dozen schools in the Valley and as far north as San Antonio. As the adage goes: If you want to preserve the music, teach it to the kids.
Inside the band hall at Los Fresnos High School, near Brownsville, in the southernmost tip of Texas, the award-winning student group, Conjunto Halcón, is warming up. The drummer counts off "one, two, three..." with his sticks, the accordion breaks into a lilting, syncopated intro, and the handsome twin singers, Daniel and Samuel, kick off Tú Carcel, a broken-hearted song.
The southern subtropics of Texas, known as the Rio Grande Valley, is a geographically and culturally distinct part of the Lone Star State — as much Mexican as Texan — with its own soundtrack. Conjunto has a thumping backbeat, plaintive vocals and shimmering accordion riffs. This century-old music has been growing among a new generation of young musicians.
Conjunto (pronounced con-HOON-toh) is now offered as a fine-arts band credit in at least a dozen schools in the Valley and as far north as San Antonio. As the adage goes: If you want to preserve the music, teach it to the kids.
Inside the band hall at Los Fresnos High School, near Brownsville, in the southernmost tip of Texas, the award-winning student group, Conjunto Halcón, is warming up. The drummer counts off "one, two, three..." with his sticks, the accordion breaks into a lilting, syncopated intro, and the handsome twin singers, Daniel and Samuel, kick off Tú Carcel, a broken-hearted song.
Conjunto music enjoys a resurgence, bridging a divide between old and new musicians
Posted from npr.org
State of Texas
Culture
Mexico
Spanish
Posted 10 mo ago
Responses: 2
1
1
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."As part of the museum tour, local squeezebox star Elisa De Hoyas and her family band, the Texas Sweethearts, set up to play a few songs. With her blue-streaked hair and incandescent smile, the 36-year-old De Hoyas is a charismatic performer. She says the accordion has garnered a cult following, propelled by the school conjunto programs, social media and competitions.
"Conjunto — together," she says, giving the literal translation of the word. "The kind of music you can do when you get together. It's a culture-rich, loving and storytelling music. We want to keep it going."
..."As part of the museum tour, local squeezebox star Elisa De Hoyas and her family band, the Texas Sweethearts, set up to play a few songs. With her blue-streaked hair and incandescent smile, the 36-year-old De Hoyas is a charismatic performer. She says the accordion has garnered a cult following, propelled by the school conjunto programs, social media and competitions.
"Conjunto — together," she says, giving the literal translation of the word. "The kind of music you can do when you get together. It's a culture-rich, loving and storytelling music. We want to keep it going."
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google