THE ART OF BROWNSVILLE - COMMENTS

I wanted to share this with you all. It sounds like a very interesting lecture on Conjunto music (a genre original to the Valley) so if you happen to be in the Valley area next week you should go to this event hosted by the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center in San Benito, TX.

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NMCAC Hosts Lecture by Tejano Music Authority

WHAT: Conjunto Music, Yesterday and Today: a Night of History, Music and Art



WHO: Dr. Manuel PeÒa, visiting professor at UT Pan American

Oscar Hernandez, legendary accordionist

Cande Aguilar and Roel Flores, visual artists and musicians



WHEN: Thursday April 29, 2004



WHERE: 220 E. Stenger Street, San Benito, Texas



WHY: NMCAC is committed to preserving and promoting a valued Rio Grande Valley cultural tradition, conjunto music, as well as history and local art. To that end, NMCAC will host a lecture by the foremost Tejano music authority, Dr. Manuel PeÒa, who is ending a one-year term holding the Maryalice Shivers Endowed Chair in the music department UT Pan American in Edinburg. Dr. PeÒa received his PhD in anthropology of music and folklore from the University of Texas at Austin and has authored three books on Tejano music, including ìThe Texas-Mexican Conjuntoî (University of Texas Press, 1985), ìMusica Tejanaî (A & M Press, 1999), and ìThe Mexican American Orquestaî (University of Texas Press, 1999). Dr. PeÒa has been teaching in California State Univeristy in Fresno since 1981.

Oscar Hernandez, born in Pharr, Texas, is an acclaimed button accordion virtuoso and Conjunto Music Hall of Fame member. He is best known for introducing the chromatic accordion to conjunto music while he was a member of the legendary Conjunto Bernal. With his accordion, Mr. Hernandez will demonstrate the evolution of conjunto music throughout Dr. PeÒaís lecture. 

Cande Aguilar Jr. is also an accordionist as well as a visual artist based in Brownsville, Texas. He began his music career at the age of 10; he is a founding members of the Tejano music group, Elida y Avante with whom he toured the U.S. and Mexico. A self-taught abstract artist, Aguilar now uses oil and mixed media to express his interpretation of the unique artistic qualities found in the Rio Grande Valley.

Roel Flores, a Weslaco, Texas native, is an accomplished bajo sexto player who began his musical career in 1955. He has played extensively with many conjuntos, and this part of his life is interpreted in his many oil paintings. Mr. Floresí and Mr. Aguilarís artwork will be on display this evening. Admission is $5.00. 

Cristina Balli
Director of Programming & Development
Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center
P.O. Box 471
220 Stenger Street
San Benito, Texas 78586
(956) 361-0110