Music CD, Mexico con Amor, by Terrence Farrell, Spanish Guitarist

Featured Album

Mexico
con Amor

Terrence Farrell * Guitarist

Listen to MP3 excerpts from Mexico con Amor:
	Cielito Lindo Querino Mendoza y Cortés	Spanish Eyes Bert Kaempfert
	Pobricita de mi alma Augustín Lara

1.	¡Ay, Jalisco no te rajes! Manuel Esperón	10.	La Golondrina Traditional
2.	Cielito Lindo Querino Mendoza y Cortés	11.	Spanish Eyes Bert Kaempfert
3.	La Pajarera Traditional	12.	Noche de ronda Augustín Lara
4.	Por ti mi corazón Manuel Ponce	13.	Canción Mexicana Traditional
5.	La Valentina Traditional	14.	Solamente una vez Augustín Lara
6.	Las Alteñitas Juan José Espinosa	15.	Mexican Hat Dance & La Cucaracha Traditional
7.	Maria Elena Lorenzo Barcelata	16.	Pobricita de mi alma Augustín Lara
8.	Jesusita en Chihuahua Querino Mendoza y Cortés	17.	Tilingo Lingo Traditional
9.	La Rielera Traditional	18.	A mi linda Mariquita Traditional

While sipping a margarita one warm and sunny day, the thought occurred to me that it would be fun to do a recording of just Mexican music. There are plenty of classical guitar recordings that mine the fertile fields of ethnic music from other Hispanic regions like Brazil, Argentina, and Spain. But, other than a few recordings of the great Mexican composer Manuel Ponce, there is little that has been offered. Having spent several years growing up in a border state, I became "hooked" on the music at a very early age. Everyone is familiar with mariachi music, but the diversity and extraneous influences that make up Mexican music may not be quite as apparent. There are real differences between Spanish, Mexican, Cuban, and Brazilian music as well as other regions "south of the border". Whereas most norte americanos think La Paloma is Mexican, it is likely a Mexican will tell you different. A good analogy would be Danny Boy. Although sharing the "English" language and being very popular in "America", it is nevertheless "Irish".

The breadth of Mexican music is incredibly vast; there is a big difference between music from the south and north as well as subtler differences between neighboring regions. The influence of Spain can be assumed to be obvious. The Indian influence is pervasive, especially in the music of the south. Then there are subtler influences with not so subtle effects, for example if you occasionally feel that with a change of instruments you could be in a beer hall in Bavaria, you are not mistaken. The polka is especially popular in the border states and speaks volumes about the influence of German settlers (as does the beer, I might add). Even the Irish, many of whom fought with Santa Anna, have had their influence. In the evenings the Irish would sit around their camp fires singing Irish folk songs, Green Grow the Lilacs being a favorite, hence the term "Gringo" for all non-Hispanics of European origin. But, that's another story!

This recording does not attempt to be a compendium of Mexican music. That would require a multiple CD set as well as a good part of the rest of my life to research. The influences go on and on, but the real story here is in the music. At times spirited, robust, vivacious, playful, heartfelt, sweet and incredibly tender.

I would like to acknowledge and give thanks to William Faulkner, Mexican Harpist and director of the Mariachi Mixtlan and to Andre de la Torre, guitarist and educator for their invaluable help guiding me through their wonderful world of Mexican music... and for the use of the sombrero!

Terrence Farrell

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