Ancestral Dreams

by Dogwood Daughter

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1.
Aztec Dance and Melody (Danza y Canción Aztecas) 03:00
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2.
On the Plain (Llano, llano) 01:51
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3.
Flute Melody (Melodía de Flauta) 00:58
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4.
In the Bones (Los Huesos) 02:39
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5.
Dreaming with the Ancestors (Soñando con los Antepasados) 02:57
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6.
Cradle Song (Canción de Cuna) 02:44
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7.
Through the Mountains (Por las Montañas) 03:12
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8.
Wachochi 02:45
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9.
Song of the Wala Bird (Canto del Pájaro Wala) 01:46
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10.
A Little Amusement (Canto de Esparcimiento) 01:58
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about

My dad died over twenty years ago. He left a substantial library that I'm still exploring. His interests were eccentric and wide: mathematics, literature, natural history, the history of science and late in life, music. A mathematician and scientist who became, in his words, a 'master piddler' in retirement, he became a passionate flutist and instrument maker in his last few years.

Some weeks ago, I rediscovered one of his odder books: Instrumentos Musicales Precortesianos by Samuel Martí. Published in 1968, it is a dense, lengthy (372 pages) and scholarly work with hundreds of photographs of ancient artifacts, mostly musical instruments but also tools, art, architecture, and bones, as well as some of the earliest notations of Mexican melodies (all monophonic) recorded by early Spanish explorers, soldiers and priests. As expected, many of the melodies come from the most commonly known tribes (Mayan, Aztec and Yaqui) but several smaller and less well known native tribes are also represented in the collection.

When I first opened this book, I had no intention of doing anything with the melodies, but they were too tempting. Tentatively at first, I started improvising a bit, adding harmony and, in some cases, combining, extending and modifying phrases; most were short, at least by modern western standards. But many of them were so beautiful, charming and exotic, I became enchanted with the whole collection and pretty soon, found that I had a new project taking off.

We humans are, I feel sure, more alike than not, across cultures and centuries. Like us, the early indigenous inhabitants of Mexico made music for the honor and glory of their gods, but, like us, they also lulled their babies to sleep with song, sang of love and courtship, and, as Track 10 demonstrates, for the beauty, joy and amusement music brings.

I hope you enjoy listening to these compositions as much as I enjoyed making them. I've already started working on Volume 2.

One more thing: why did I call my album Ancestral Dreams? A couple of years ago I did a DNA test (Ancestry.com) and discovered that I owe 9 percent of my own genetic make up to my Mexican Indian ancestors. I wasn't surprised. On a deep and mysterious level, some of these melodies resonate with me as if they were dearly loved though long absent old friends.

Be Well and Good Luck,
Martha Maria

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released February 15, 2021

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Dogwood Daughter Oak Ridge, Tennessee

I'm Dogwood Daughter, also known as Lily Cat Music for Kids, Martha and Mom. I work from my studio behind my house in the Cumberland Mountains. I'm a one woman operation, compose all the music, write the lyrics, play and sing all parts. I record for my general audience as Dogwood Daughter and produce children's music as Lily Cat Music for Kids. LOTS of music on my website, please visit! Thanks. ... more

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