ambience: parade music, horns and drums
We’re listening to the sounds of an indigenous Guatemalan band playing in the yearly Saint’s Day Procession in the town of San Juan Comolapa. I’m Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet.
“People are always happy to celebrate San Juan Day. They hold candles in front of the Catholic church because that is where the patron saint resides. People from the far away hamlets come to celebrate this day. The San Juan procession always leaves at about nine in the morning on June 24. San Juan is the patron saint of our town and it is important that he sees that people are happy during his celebration. People make carpets of flowers and clean up the roads to honor San Juan. They also set off fireworks to show San Juan they are happy.”
ambience: flute and drum
The San Juan Parade includes marching bands but also many kinds of indigenous music like the flute and drum.
“We play with the Cofradia, the Catholic religious brotherhood, and we always accompany the San Juan procession. The flute is from our ancestors, my dad made this flute, I was nine when I began to play with my dad. I have been playing the flute for more than 40 years. I ‘m 51 years old. The flute is made from hollowed out bamboo cane and the wax is from bees. The drum is more than 40 years old.”
From San Juan Comolapa in Guatemala, I’m Jim Metzner. Pulse of the Planet is presented with support provided by the National Science Foundation.