| Music of the United States |
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New Mexico is astate of theSouthwestUnited States. The state has music traditions dating back to the ancientAnasazi andPueblo people, Navajo, Apache, and the SpanishSanta Fe de Nuevo México; these old traditions are found in both their original folk forms and as a modern folk genre known asNew Mexico music.
In the 1950s and 60s, the town ofClovis was home to theNorman Petty Recording Studios, whereBuddy Holly,Roy Orbison, andWaylon Jennings recorded.[1] A well-known 1960s group hailing from New Mexico wasThe Fireballs scoring a #1 Hot 100 hit in 1963 called "Sugar Shack".[2] Native American rock groupXit were signed and recordedPlight of the Redman (1972) andSilent Warrior (1973) for a subsidiary ofMotown Records, Rare Earth Records.[3] During the 1970s and 80s,New Mexico musiciansAl Hurricane andAl Hurricane Jr. became recognized on the nationally and internationally syndicatedVal De La O Show.[4]
The English-languagestate song of New Mexico is "O Fair New Mexico", adopted by the state legislature in 1917. In 1971, "Así Es Nuevo México" was adopted as the Spanish-language state song. In 1989, the legislature adopted "Land of Enchantment" byMichael Martin Murphey as the official state ballad; and in 1995, the legislature adopted "New Mexico - Mi Lindo Nuevo México" by Pablo Mares as the state's official bilingual state song.[5]
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New Mexico'sheritage studies and inquiries into the unique past of the area reveal that theviolin was introduced into New Mexico long before Europeans brought polka and other folk forms to the east coast; several studies confirm the long history of violin playing in New Mexico.[6][7][8] The New Mexico Musical Heritage Project continues to play the music of early New Mexico, while learning the violin building techniques used in the pueblos to convert the natives through music.[9]
The first inhabitants of New Mexico were Native Americans, followed by Spaniards in the sixteenth century. In 1821 the land was ceded to Mexico, and in 1848 it became a territory of the United States. The cultures of each of these groups has influenced the music of New Mexico in unique ways.
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Native American music has wide representation in New Mexico, as the state is home to the second largest Native American population percentage in the US. One such example isTaos Pueblo'sRobert Mirabal who received twoGrammy Awards.[10] An entirely unique genre of Latin music, directly related to the Pueblo, mestizo Hispano, and other Native affiliated groups, calledNew Mexico music has a sizable audience in the state.
Pioneered by the ancientPueblo people, and by the folk music ofHispanos of New Mexico. Artists such asAntonia Apodaca andAl Hurricane popularized the genre, with Al Hurricane blending Country, Western, Rock, and Jazz into the sound. Modern Latin Pop musiciansLorenzo Antonio andSparx have continued to crossover New Mexico with other popular music styles. The largest radio market in the state, Albuquerque, has two major FM stations primarily broadcasting the genre, those beingKANW andKNMM. There are several annual series' of albums, including; KANW'sNew Mexico Music series,New Mexico Spanish Super Stars, andLos 15 Grandes de Nuevo México.
The New Mexico Philharmonic continues the long tradition of the now defunctNew Mexico Symphony Orchestra, who had been performing since 1932.[11][12] Other Classical music institutions in the state include the Taos School of Music, theSanta Fe Community Orchestra and theSanta Fe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.
In the formative era of modern country music, many notable figures passed through New Mexico. Around 1927,Bob Wills lived inRoy, New Mexico where he was influenced by contemporary Hispanic dancehall styles. Between 1954 and 1960, a youngGlen Campbell was living in Albuquerque and performing for live audiences and his uncle, Dick Bills', radio program. Contemporary performers of County and Western music residing in New Mexico includeMichael Martin Murphey ofRed River andHandsome Family of Albuquerque, who relocated fromChicago in 2001.The town ofRuidoso is home to the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium - now known as CowboyFest - which features music.[13]
From 1954 through the -60s, a recording studio operated by Norman Petty inClovis was responsible for several notableBuddy Holly tracks. In 2002, a song called "New Slang" was heard on TV commercials across the country. The group wasThe Shins, which became a perennial favorite among indie folk/pop/rock fans worldwide.[14] The next international success came when a young Santa Fe and Albuquerque residentZach Condon formed an ethno/world influenced band calledBeirut.[15]
The city ofSanta Fe, New Mexico is home to the Santa Fe International Festival of New Music, theSanta Fe Chamber Music Festival, and theSanta Fe Opera.Taos is home to the Taos Solar Music Festival. June is the month for many festivals in New Mexico. Besides Taos Solar Music Festival at the end of June, there is Southwest Roots Music Festival, also called the Thirsty Ear Music Festival that takes place in the middle of June just outside Santa Fe at the famous western movie set. Festival features well-known artists representing the roots of folk, blues, bluegrass, and world music.
The University of New Mexico'sJohn Donald Robb Composers’ Symposium has been and continues to be one of the central contemporary music events in the US Southwest. The symposium began in 1972 when UNM Music Professor William Wood invited his former teacher, Norman Lockwood, to the campus, where his compositions were performed, along with the works of UNM music composition students. In 1999, the symposium was renamed the John Donald Robb Composers’ Symposium. The symposium is now presented jointly by the John Donald Robb Musical Trust and the UNM Department of Music. The Symposium brings international composers and performers to the University of New Mexico campus for four to six long days of concerts, seminars, masterclasses, and public talks. The numerous concerts and events are all made free to the public, making the Symposium an inclusive listening opportunity that welcomes in audiences and serves them entirely new sonic experiences, as well as showcasing the talents of UNM faculty and students, alongside national and international guest artists. Guest composers have includedRobert Ashley,Milton Babbitt,Anthony Braxton,Martin Bresnick,John Cage,Raven Chacon,Chen Yi,Michael Colgrass,George Crumb,Julio Estrada,Lukas Foss,Lou Harrison,Alan Hovhaness,Karel Husa,John Harbison,Ernst Krenek,Libby Larsen,Lei Liang,John Lewis,Thea Musgrave,Pauline Oliveros,Hilda Paredes,Vincent Persichetti,Roger Reynolds,Ned Rorem,Maria Schneider,Gunther Schuller,Cecil Taylor,James Tenney,Joan Tower,Christian Wolff.Directors of the Symposium include: Christopher Shultis,Peter Gilbert, andKarola Obermüller.[16]
Another festival in New Mexico isGlobalquerque taking place at the end of every September since 2005 at the Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque. It features music from all continents (folk/ethno/pop) as well as some Native American and Hispanic acts.
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Red River in Northern New Mexico hosts a Blues festival in early June, in addition to Larry Joe Taylor's Music Festival and Chili Cookoff.
In Taos, theTaos Inn host nightly music performances.
Musicians and bands associated with New Mexico include:
