<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3PHxir_0vlcGLCW00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3PHxir_0vlcGLCW00" width="908" height="511" >Leila El SabbaghStaff WriterThe Department of Music at Pomona College and Scripps College have collaborated for a Claremont Colleges faculty mariachi concert Sept. 20 in Balch Auditorium.Faculty from both colleges performed classic mariachi pieces, such as “La Llorona” and “Volver, Volver.”The echoes of mariachi music rang throughout the walls of Balch Auditorium as the melodies enchanted concert goers.Cándida Jáquez, associate professor of music and director for this event, takes great pride in her heritage and honored her late uncle Frank Aguilar.Jáquez shared how she felt being able to perform and dedicate the song, “La Malagueña,” to Aguilar.“It means a lot to me,” Jáquez said, “It really brought together my family (and) colleagues.”“La Malagueña,” composed by Ernesto Lecuona, is a Spanish folk song with many genre variations.The song is about a man telling a woman from Málaga how beautiful she is. Throughout the song he compliments her eyes and beauty.The song begins with the eyes under the eyebrows of the woman and how enchanting she is to him.The man describes the woman as bewitching with her beauty just like the beauty of a blooming rose.The man shares he has no wealth and all he has to offer is his heart.In the song, he understands that if the woman rejects him because of his poverty, he does not blame her for it.However, he feels that her beauty is so great that he has no choice, but to continue to admire her charm.Before the performance, Jáquez shared that “La Malagueña” was one of the last songs Aguilar was able to play in his retirement home.Violin, vocal and trumpet solos were distributed throughout the performers.Alfred Cramer, associate professor of music, had the part of playing a violin solo during “Amor de los Dos.”Cramer shared more about the group of the performers and his involvement in mariachi music.“Professor Jáquez gets together a faculty group to participate in her class’s end of the year concert that I’ve attended before,” Cramer said. “Having that experience, she thought it would be a great idea to have a concert of our own.”Pomona College was lively with students roaming and outdoor activities set up. A few students even stopped by the Balch to watch the concert and support their professors.Joti Rockwell, associate professor of music and vihuela performer in the concert, commented on personal connections with his students as a professor and performer.“It’s really important to me that students I’m teaching here, no matter the class, know that I’m active as a performing musician,” Rockwell said, “Everything that we’re doing with this concert connects to what we’re teaching in our classes.”The song to end the concert, “Volver, Volver,” is considered a classic by mariachi listeners. The song was first written by Fernando Z. Maldonado and was popularized by Vicente Fernández.Guests were welcomed to sing along to the classic, celebrating the song and the end of the concert.“I always try to come to the concerts that are special to us,” concert guest Irene Acedo said. “It’s good to see that other people are sharing and appreciating our Mexican heritage.”Although Hispanic Heritage Month is coming to an end, celebrating and embracing that heritage will live on in the Hispanic community through classic mariachi compositions and more.Leila El Sabbagh can be reached at leila.elsabbagh@laverne.edu.Leila El Sabbagh is a staff writer for the Campus Times. She is a sophomore journalism major with a concentration in broadcast journalism who aspires to be a sports broadcaster.</div></body>

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Mariachi music highlights love and longing

The Department of Music at Pomona College and Scripps College have collaborated for a Claremont Colleges faculty mariachi concert Sept. 20 in Balch Auditorium. Faculty from both colleges performed classic mariachi pieces, such as “La Llorona” and “Volver, Volver.”. The echoes of mariachi music rang throughout the...