February brought Judy and me back to San Miguel de Allende.
This time, our Bakersfield friend Dennis traveled along with us. We’re living in
our same apartment complex on Animas; Judy and I on the ground level in the
Ricardo Montalban, and Dennis above us in the Dolores del Rio.
It was Constitution Day weekend, and we’d heard that the
Navy Band would perform. But, checking further, we discovered that instead, a
high school symphony group would be playing in a park “just a couple blocks
behind la Parroquia.” We’d started out around the west end of, la Parroquia, San
Miguel’s most famous edificio, when sounds of an exuberant band erupted in the
opposite direction.
A quick turn-about, and we were on the trail, a block or two
behind the black-and-orange-costumed musicians and a crowd of revelers whose
cowboy hats topped off their western garb. Even from a distance, we could see
that they were doing a dance march as they followed the band, Pied-Piper like.
Thanks to traffic bottlenecks, we soon caught up to them after
they turned on Calle Recreo, whipping out our cameras on the run. For the next
several blocks, we wove through the crowd of onlookers, everyone vying for a
good photo position.
The procession stopped at the historic public lavanderias,
the outdoor tubs where, in the old days, the women congregated to do their
families’ wash. There, the festivities continued with music and dancing. We
observed through our camera view-finders, clicking away.
Then, we heard strains of a different type of music coming
from the direction el Parque Benito Juarez, two blocks away. Following the
sound through the park’s well-lit brick paths, we came upon a spot that opened
up into a circle. There, a drum and bugle corps practiced, playing with
enthusiasm and precision. A group of young men and women, encouraged by their
spirited leader, entertained us for several minutes before we moved on in
search of the orchestral group we’d expected to hear this night.
Further into el Parque Juarez, and through paths that wound
past the many flower vendors still in place from the Feria de la Candelaria, we picked up the sounds of violins coming from the center court. There on the
stage, sawing away, sat 15 or 20 youthful violinists and their teacher, with an accompanist at the piano. We’d arrived in time to hear only the last two numbers of
the evening before they abruptly held their bows at attention, stood bathed in the light
and applause, then marched off the stage.
Later, we passed through el jardin on our way home and came
upon mariachis serenading a group, who had prime seating on the wrought iron
benches facing la Parroquia. Some of the on-lookers sang word-for-word,
note-for-note, with the musicians. Some danced or pulled others’ hands, urging
them to rise and move with the music.
Enchanted by this entire scene -- the voices, the crowd, the music, the view -- and the melodic variety the evening held, we couldn’t help but marvel at the magic of San Miguel.
Enchanted by this entire scene -- the voices, the crowd, the music, the view -- and the melodic variety the evening held, we couldn’t help but marvel at the magic of San Miguel.
~ xoA ~
Hey, Annis,
ReplyDeleteIt was a serendipitous (delightfully unexpected) musical adventure! You capture it so well.
What fun we had! xoA
DeleteCan't resist adding, Annis, that we were there in the "old days" -- back in 1974 we actually saw that community of women gathering at the lavandarias. So many memories. A beautiful post!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the trip down Memory Lane, Beth. Thank you. xoA
DeleteGreat bblog you have here
ReplyDelete