Traditional TUNA Concert [] Mujeres en Cambio
Event Category: Musical Events
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Traditional TUNA Concert
Wednesday, July 7, 2021
7:00 pmvia ZOOM
Mujeres en Cambio
An ancient musical tradition kept alive in San Miguel de Allende
by Natalie Taylor
A musical “tuna” group has nothing to do with fishing, nothing to do with the fruit of the nopal. It’s a tradition born in Spain in the 13th century when poor university students created musical brotherhoods and played their instruments as a group to raise money. They traveled from place to place like troubadours and were eventually called tunas, from the Spanish verb “tunar” which means to wander, or to bum around.
Tuna Tradicional of San Miguel de Allende is definitely not a group of vagabonds—they are all working professionals living in the municipality. But they are also talented musicians who came together because they were friends and lovers of music. This is not simply a musical group, it’s a brotherhood bonded by their appreciation of this centuries-long tradition. They preserve the past with the music, with the instruments they play, and the colorful costumes they wear. The clothing harkens back to the dress of Spanish students in the 16th and 17th century and consists of a tight-fitting jacket worn over a white shirt with big cuffs and collar. Multi-colored ribbons and shreds attached to clothing or instruments represent expressions of love given to the musicians by sweethearts, wives, mothers, or friends.
During the Colonial period, Spaniards brought the tuna musical tradition and many such school groups evolved around Mexico. Several members of the current Tuna Tradicional were students at the Escuela Normal de Santo Domingo, and they formed a musical group while still there in the 1970s. It was (and still is) a joyful and fun-loving group; that sometimes did not sit well with the stern nuns who ran the school. So about 17 years ago they became independent, bringing their talents into what became the Tuna Tradicional musical ensemble.
Norberto Godinez Estrada, the nominal director of the group, told me that they are a species facing extinction. The young people are not interested in continuing the tradition, they find it difficult to learn the ancient tuna instruments such as the mandolin or the lute. In spite of that, Tuna Tradicional continues keeping the past alive with their music. They play and sing traditional Mexican songs, particularly those created by the great composers of the Golden Era of Mexican cinema, people like Roque Carbajo, and others.
On July 7, at 7pm through Zoom, Mujeres en Cambio presents a musical event featuring these unique musicians. You will be treated to their history, their connection to the ancient musical tradition, an explanation of the instruments they use, and the costumes they wear. You will also contribute to a great cause—the education of young women. Please join us with your favorite cocktail to listen to the music of these Sanmiguelense performers; we promise you will be delighted by the show!
Educating Girls is the Key to Ending Poverty
The objective of Mujeres en Cambio is to foster the independence, education and enhanced quality of life of impoverished rural women and girls in the areas surrounding San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico. Our aim is to recognize, honor and empower these women, supporting them to obtain an education or to begin or continue self-sustaining projects that benefit them and their families.
Mujeres en Cambio (MeC), a not-for-profit organization, was founded in 1995 by a small group of women—both American expatriates and Mexican citizens—who were concerned about the plight of the impoverished women in the rural communities (campo) surrounding San Miguel de Allende. These founders recognized that improving the educational prospects for rural women and teaching them skills that would enable them to earn an income was one of the surest ways to provide them with a pathway to an improved future. This led to our current Scholarship Program and the Rug Hook Project. The Scholarship Program: Improving the Educational Prospects for Rural Women The founders’ primary objective was to provide financial assistance to young girls in the rural communities surrounding San Miguel who would not otherwise be able to continue their education. In Mexico, education is free only through the 6th grade. For education beyond that level, students are required to pay for tuition, books, school supplies, exams, transportation, school uniforms and shoes. These expenditures often are too costly for many families and as a result, their children drop out of school. A scholarship from Mujeres en Cambio makes it possible for a girl who is an excellent student and maintains a high GPA to continue her education—from junior high school (secondaria) through senior high school (preparatoria) and through university. Our first scholarships were awarded to seven very deserving young girls in 1995. The Scholarship program has grown exponentially since those early days. For the 2017-2018 school year, MeC granted 132 scholarships to girls in secondaria and preparatoria at an annual cost per student of $5,500 pesos, and granted 42 scholarships to university students at an annual cost per student of $20,500 pesos. While this amount does not cover all school costs, it is critical in helping a student reach her educational goals. This opportunity will enhance her quality of life and capacity for independence. The Rug-Hook Project: Teaching Skills to Earn Incomes One of MeC’s early projects included teaching embroidery classes in San Miguel to rural women. Many of these women had to travel a great distance from remote villages to attend classes, often forfeiting a day’s work in the fields or the income from selling their home-grown produce. Those women who were able to attend at least a few classes came from one village—Agustin Gonzales. After it was suggested that hooked rugs might be a more distinctive and successful craft, classes in rug hooking began in Agustin Gonzales.This was the genesis of the Rug Hook Project and Las Rancheritas.
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