Herschel Freeman Agency

XAVIER QUIJAS YXAYOTL And AMERICA INDIGENA

Ancient Mayan Music and Aztec Dances


Experience the wonders of the world of Mesoamerica, through Mexico’s ancient music and dance.   Traditional music of the Mayan civilization, along with Aztec dances, is presented by America Indigena with true authenticity. 

All instruments are handmade by master musician Xavier Quijas Yxayotl, most being authentic replicas of ancient instruments.  This is a rare opportunity not only to hear them, but also to learn about them and their importance to these cultures.  Xavier has worked for 30 years researching and investing his life in this ancient musical tradition.  The results are sounds and sights that are uniquely displayed in a compelling stage spectacle.

Xavier works with a troupe of five Aztec dancers, who have mastered both the art of the intensely physical dances and the craft of the exquisite, colorful costuming.  Each performer makes their own costumes, and each performance’s costume designs are unique, employing feathers up to four feet in length, gold sequins and vivid cloths.  The dances depict various aspects of Aztec religion and daily life, including prayers to the Gods, hunting, and the ultimate expression of faith, the Fire Dance, in which the dancer’s elevated emotional state makes him impervious to the effects of the fire on his skin. 

Ancient  “Percussion” Instruments of Mexican Indian Civilizations

Huehuetl

Aztec big drum from a hollow trunk.  There come in a variety of  sizes with carving designs symbolizing different aspects in different ceremonies.  Huehuetl in Nahuatl (the Aztec language) means voice of the grandfather.  

Teponaxtle (or Mayan Tunkul)

two-toned wooden slit log drum (different sizes and carving designs also).  The Teponaxtle and Huehuetl are always played together in Aztec music and dances.  In Nahuatl it means singing wood.

Tarahumara Drums

from the Tarahumara Indians of Northern Mexico.  The sound of this drum represents thunder.

Bubaleks

Mayan water gourd drums are floating inverted hollowed out gourds, producing a rich, unique sound.  They are also used by the Yaqui Indians of Northern Mexico.

Ayotl

Turtle shell drums.  Tapping percussion, often played with deer antlers.  The turtle offers its body to make music to walk in beauty. 

Oyoyotl

ascabeles, seeds of the Ayoyote tree (Danzante ankle wraps & hand rattles).

Chicahuastli ; Ayacaxtli

rattles & shakers of seedpods, goat hooves, deer toes.

Tenabaris

cocoon rattles.  From the Yaqui Indians.  They represent the transformation in life.  The cocoon rattles around his legs were once homes of the butterflies.  As they dance they want the butterfly to know that, even if he is dead, his spirit is alive and his house is occupied. 

Homichicahuastli

big rasp.

Tepehuan - Arco Musical Bow

The gourd has always been around and has many uses as vessels, etc.  Xavier likes to create instruments with them such as:  water gourd drums, large Mayan trumpets, big rasps, rattles, and the Musical Bow.  The Musical Bow is a huge gourd with the top and bottom cut out.  Around the top rim is an armrest to hold a 9-foot bow.  When played the string makes two very unusual tones.  This is much larger than the ones used by the Tepehuanes Indians of Northern Mexico.  It is very ancient, PREDATING ANY DRUMS!  The Indians use it in their ceremonies for the 'hunt ceremony'.  In the beginning this instrument was a real weapon (bows and arrows).  But the hunters play around the fire and sing at the same time, and they hit the bowstring with an arrow.  The sound was very quiet, but through the years they changed it and added a little gourd to make more resonance.  Through more years they put a big gourd on the floor, and played the big bow on top of the gourd.  Now the bows and arrows have been transformed to musical instruments.

Ancient  “Flute” Instruments of Mexican Indian Civilizations

Tlapitzalli – Flute in Nahuatl language. 

The flutes are in different materials, wood, bamboo, and clay.  Clay flutes are made in chambers -single, double, triple, and quadruple.  But the most important is to use clay  because clay represents the singing mother earth.  And the earth is brown, and so is the color of their skin.  For the ancient civilizations these flutes are very sacred.
Xavier was the first to bring these double and triple clay flutes into the United States, and now many wood flute makers have copied this idea making these drone flutes. 
The “Fire Flute” – Sounds of the Night Spirits, this flute is very dramatic having fire flaming off the end of it.  When played the clay warms, making haunting and spiritual sounds.  Invented by Xavier, they are the only ones in the world.   These now-famous flutes can have from 7 to 14 chambers in one!  Some of these chambers are ocarinas replicating wind, eagle, hawk, and bird whistles.  By having everything contained all in one flute, Xavier doesn’t have to pick up any other ocarinas or flutes.  The Fire Flute was born from a vision during a Huichol Indian peyote ceremony in 1976.  Xavier was watching the fire, and the fire was singing and dancing.  A little fire flame came jumping to him and gave him the inspiration to make this unique flute.

Wind Whistle

Creates the sound of the wind.

Chichtli

Clay whistle ocarinas creating different bird sounds.

Dead Whistle

Found only in Mexico it is used for the death ceremony, and was later transformed for the "Day of the Dead Ceremony" whistle. 

The Aztecs used it in their death ceremony when some important hierarchy died.  They took the body through the streets with 100 or more dead whistles screaming, accompanied by drumming, then continued to the burial tomb site or pyramid.  The Aztecs also used them when they went to war.  They practically frightened the enemy by their drumming, dancing, and lots of screaming dead whistles.  Xavier makes his look like skulls, which alone look very scary and intimidating.  He is the only known maker of this unique, ancient instrument. 

 

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