Martin Espino is a performer, educator, lecturer, and instrument maker. He is best known for his engaging music performances utilizing indigenous musical instruments of Mexico, some with traditions that stretch back centuries. He will be participating at November’s First Fridays Long Beach in Bixby Knolls. The theme for the monthly art walk is Day of the Dead.
Espino is a classically trained guitarist in the Western musical tradition, graduating with Bachelor’s degree in Music from Immaculate Heart College in 1978. There, he also studied Medieval and renaissance music of Europe, focusing on Spain.
“I play most of the ‘early’ instruments, and still have my lute, so it’s a funny turn about as, now, I say I know what the music of the Spaniards was like at the time they invaded Mexico, because I played it. That doesn’t change my performance. It only means I know the influences it had on the traditional music, and has enabled me to see how they saw our music. I can see the elements of European music in certain folk and indigenous music of the Americas, meaning Mexico too.
“For instance, there are some elements of traditional and indigenous music that are very highly possibly influenced by European music of the time. The act of one musician playing the one-handed flute and a little drum at the same (i.e. Voladores de Panpantla) has got to be a European influence from the “pipe and tabor” of the middle ages! Also, the obvious ones, like the use of guitars, violins and harp in ‘indigenous music.’ Conversely, knowing the European or ‘Western’ elements of music also showed me the non-western elements of Mexican indigenous music.”
According to Espino, some of the very ancient musical traditions were interrupted, but not broken.
“The practice of playing our indigenous music was prohibited, the Calmecacs (schools) were disbanded, and teachers were killed, resulting in the methodologies on learning and teaching them disappeared, however the instruments are still played and have been played. Hardly any instrumental evolution happened to them, but then this is common in almost all folk heritages around the world. Ancient instruments might get modified in these modern times, but they pretty much remain how they have been.
“Our native instruments have been used in the music of modern Mexican composers. Composers back in the 40’s like Carlos Chavez, Daniel Ayala, Luis Sandi composed music for chamber ensemble and symphony because of the rise of Nationalism. The Europeans were still thought to be an example to be looked up to but, when they started to reflect their nationality, people started to defend and show their heritage, thus it was reflected in the music.
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“Stravinsky – one of my idols – gathered music from the highlands. Bartok used gypsy music. When the Mexicans tried to copy them, they suddenly realized that they had been putting down the music since the 1500’s because of the pro-Spanish observations by clowns like Bernal Diaz del Castillo. The Mexican composers found themselves, again, trying to emulate European trends and, in doing so, started to use the indigenous music and instruments in their works!
“This music that ‘scholars’ had dismissed as being as ‘savage,’ or ‘the poorest art of the Americas’ was, all of a sudden, worthy of praise by Mexican critics, scholars and others! It’s hilarious that, in trying to copy the Europeans, we got our music back. The nationalist movement influenced Mexicans to draw from their own arts, thus restoring the level of worthiness of our ancient ‘classical’ instruments!”
In Espino’s performances, he uses recorded tracks as accompaniment. He’s also been known to bust out the tech, using live looping, Abelton Live, and other gear from time to time.
“Some instruments I can’t take to gigs. Big Clay Pots, for example, are too delicate, and some things really need to be mic’d very close, such as water drums and other goodies.”
On Friday, you can find Martin at Bella Pizza, located at 4085 Atlantic Avenue. The event runs from 6:30-9:30 PM, and stretches from San Antonio Drive on the North to Bixby Road on the South. On Saturday, he will be at Folk Tree in Pasadena from 12:30-1:30 PM, then the Tia Chucha‘s Muertos Festival in Pacoima from 4:30-5:30 PM. For more information about Martin, visit MartinEspino.com. For more information about First Fridays, visit FirstFridaysLongBeach.com.
Martin shared a suggested listening list:
Carlos Chavez’ “Sinfonia India” and “Xochipilli Macuilxochitl”
Daniel Ayala’s “Tribu”
Luis Sandi’s “Yaqui Music”
J’oseph Julian Gonzalez’ “Misa Azteca”