Villalobos Brothers

The Villalobos Brothers

From left to right: Alberto, Ernesto, and Luis Villalobos before a performance at The Festival of Nations in Tennessee in April 2008.
Background information
Origin Veracruz, Mexico
Genres World, Classical, Son Jarocho, Son Huasteco, Mexican Folk, Latin Jazz, Latin Pop
Years active 2005–present
Website VillalobosBrothers.com
Members Ernesto Villalobos
Alberto Villalobos
Luis Villalobos

The Villalobos Brothers (born in Xalapa, Mexico) are a trio of violinists, singer-songwriters, composers, arrangers, and multi-talented instrumentalists. They have performed at the Latin Grammy® Awards,[1][2][3]Carnegie Hall,[1][2][3] the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum,[4] the Metropolitan Museum of Art,[5][6] the 60th Anniversary of the United Nations,[7] the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center,[8] the New York Mets field at Shea Stadium,[2] and other historic venues.

They have accompanied and collaborated with many artists, including Morley,[9] Paloma San Basilio,[8] Paddy Moloney and The Chieftains, Eddie Palmieri,[10] Graciela,[8] Dolly Parton,[11] León Gieco,[8] Leni Stern,[12] César Camargo Mariano,[8] Lila Downs,[13] Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz,[8] Pierre Boulez,[14] Alberto Vázquez, Johnny Ventura,[8] Dan Zanes[15] and Rafael Escalona.[8] Their first solo album, "Villa-Lobos", was released in 2009.[16]

Early Years And Education

The Villalobos Brothers performing at Carnegie Hall's Isaac Stern Auditorium

Early Years

The Villalobos Brothers were born and raised in Xalapa, Mexico, an hour's drive from the port city of Veracruz. They spent their childhood listening to their grandmother Cristina Vásquez play music for enjoyment after a day's work, for dancers at a country fandango, or for guests dining in the many coastal seafood restaurants. They took up the violin as small children and soon learned to sing and play other instruments, including the guitar, the piano and the thin-bodied guitars jaranas. They eventually moved on to specialize in classical violin and composition, and developed their own style of playing, called "Fast-Chatting Violin" [17] consisting in a rapid succession of notes and percussive sounds that imitate the human voice.

From 1990 to 2000 they studied classical violin with Carlos Marrufo Gurrutia, a student of Henryk Szeryng at the University of Veracruz. The three brothers also studied composition and counterpoint with Eugeniusz Sleziak Kandora, Roberto Lira López, and Ryszard Siwy Machalica.[18]

Child prodigies

The Villalobos Brothers were considered child prodigies[19] and had early soloist debuts with the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra playing the Sibelius, Brahms, and Saint-Saëns violin concertos.[20] They also had solo appearances with the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Peru.[21][22][23]

Advanced Musical Studies

In 2000, the U.S. Department of State awarded the eldest brother, Ernesto Villalobos, a Fulbright Grant[1][24] to carry out graduate studies at the Manhattan School of Music,[25] where he studied with Patinka Kopec and Nils Vigeland. In 2001 he performed at Master Classes led by Pinchas Zukerman and Glenn Dicterow and travelled to Israel to study with Shlomo Mintz.

The middle brother, Alberto Villalobos, left Mexico in 2002 and studied violin with Igor Oistrakh at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels for three years.[26] He was later selected as a student by Pierre Boulez at the Lucerne Festival Academy in Switzerland.[27] In 2003 he performed at Master Classes led by Zakhar Bron.[28]

In 2003 the youngest brother, Luis Villalobos, moved to Germany, where he studied violin with Nicolas Chumachenco at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg.[29] He was also accepted at the prestigious Mozarteum University of Salzburg in Austria.[30]

Style and influences

Although the three Villalobos Brothers are classically trained violin virtuosos, their music draws on many genres, including Son Jarocho (a musical style from their native Veracruz, Mexico. Jarocho describes the people and culture of the southern coastal plain of Veracruz, who for more than two centuries have shaped a distinctive regional music),[17] Jazz, Rock and Blues.

Most of their original music features complex patterns of interwoven three-violin harmonies, intricate call-and-response arrangements and lyrical melodies carried out by one of the brothers as the other two reinforce it in counterpoint.[31]

While touring in support of their album, Ernesto Villalobos noted, “Due to our training in different parts of the world, each brother brings something unique to the table: From my years in New York and Israel my violin playing style and technique are closest to the Galamian, or American school. Alberto studied in Belgium under Igor Oistrakh, perfecting the Russian school and Luis followed the German school under Nicolas Chumachenco. But in the end these are of course only labels...We grew up together, making music together for many years in the tropics of Veracruz, Mexico”[31]

In addition, The Villalobos Brothers have created their own signature style of violin playing called “Fast-Chatting Violin”[17][32] by incorporating elements of classical music, jazz and indigenous Son Jarocho and Son Huasteco, a genre extensively researched and embraced by Alberto Villalobos.[31] In 2009 he spent a year in the Huasteca region of Veracruz recording and transcribing Sones Huastecos that have been verbally passed down for centuries from generation to generation and were in danger of being lost.

Critical Reception and Awards

Critical Reception

The Villalobos Brothers have been acclaimed as violin virtuosos and one of the leading ensembles of world music.[3][17][33][34] Critical comments on The Villalobos Brothers include:

Following a November 12th, 2006 concert at Kaufman Center's Merkin Concert Hall in New York City, The Forward noted that "…they played with exuberant intensity for the appreciative audience…Ernesto returned his attention to his violin, his long, dark hair flying through the air as his bow raced across the strings….With their heads bowed as if in prayer, their fingers jumping and feet tapping, they weren’t just playing music, they were living it…"[3]

In 2009, their music was described as “High Octane Mexican Fiddling” by The New Victory Theater.[35]

In 2007, they received the Tepeyac Association of New York's "Leaders of the Future Excellence Award" and were congratulated by United States Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton, John Sabini, Robert Menendez, Congressman Joseph Crowley, Governor Eliot Spitzer, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and other American politicians.[33]

Awards

Ernesto Villalobos conducts the premiere of "Anochipa Tlalticpac" at Carnegie Hall
The Villalobos Brothers after a performance on Telemundo 47

Carnegie Hall Concerts

Joan and Sanford I. Weill Recital Hall

The Villalobos Brothers performing at Queens Theatre In The Park

On October 23, 2005 The Villalobos Brothers reunited in New York City for their debut recital at Carnegie Hall.[1][3] The concert was also a sold-out benefit for The Shul of New York and included the following musicians:

Carlos Pereira piano and guitar, Matt Snyder clarinet, Kathleen Tagg piano, Dave Hertzberg bass, Ramón Ponce Jr. vihuela and guitarrón, Ilmar Gavilán violin, Humberto Flores guitar, An Vanhauwaert violin, Morley Kamen voice, Adam Feder guitar, Cristina Vásquez voice, Yamani Fuentes flute, Seth Ginsberg mandolin, Daniel Sadownick percussion.

Isaac Stern Auditorium / Ronald O. Perelman Stage

On December 17, 2006 The Villalobos Brothers were invited back to Carnegie Hall,[2][44] this time leading the music program for Calpulli Mexican Dance Company's production at the Isaac Stern Auditorium involving over a hundred dancers and musicians and with the special participation of the Mariachi Academy of New York.[45] For this concert, the brothers premiered several original compositions, including "Anochipa Tlalticpac" for chorus, jaranas, and pre-Columbian percussion.

Notable guest musicians included: Pedro Da Silva guitar, Cristina Vásquez voice, Nilko Andreas Guarin guitar, Mauricio O'Reilly voice, Martin Vejarano percussion, Selene Muñoz voice, Adam Feder voice, Roman García voice, Jocelyn Medina voice, Veronica Valerio harp and voice, Todd Carter voice, Yamani Fuentes flute, Lilly Lavner voice, Ramón Ponce Sr. trumpet Ramón Ponce Jr. vihuela, Miguel Ponce, guitarrón.

Collaboration with Calpulli Mexican Dance Company

From 2006 to 2009 Ernesto Villalobos served as Musical Director of Calpulli Mexican Dance Company. During these years, The Villalobos Brothers toured extensively with the company, performing with Dolly Parton at the Festival of Nations at Dollywood, at Queens Theatre in the Park, Mayo Center for the Performing Arts, Sarah Lawrence College, Colgate University, Museo del Barrio, Lehman Brothers Headquarters, Elmira College and Carnegie Hall.[45]

Latin Grammy ® Appearance

The Villalobos Brothers with León Gieco after the Latin Grammy ® Awards in New York City

The Villalobos Brothers appeared at The 7th Annual Latin Grammy® Awards.[1][2][3] They arranged and performed the music of Grammy® winners: Graciela, Paloma San Basilio, León Gieco, César Camargo Mariano, Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz, Alberto Vázquez, Johnny Ventura and Rafael Escalona.[8]

Discography

Solo

Collaborations

Movies and Documentaries

Original Soundtracks

Instrumentalists

Plays

Other Performances and Collaborations

National Dance Institute

In June of 2008 The Villalobos Brothers were featured as soloists at the National Dance Institute's Event Of The Year "Volando a México". This series of concerts involved over 200 dancers and musicians and told the story of two Mexican-American children living in New York City who fly to Mexico for the first time. This series was directed by Jenny Seham and the Musical Director was Jerry Korman. As part of this same event, they were also invited to appear in a short film by NDI's Artistic Director Jacques d'Amboise, "The Children of the Roses".[67]

Collaboration with Dan Zanes

On January 17th, 2008 The Villalobos Brothers accompanied Grammy®-winner Dan Zanes as part of Blue Country Heart: The Music of Hank Williams[68]with Jorma Kaukonen, G.E. Smith, Little Toby Walker, Larry Campbell, Marc Anthony Thompson, David Spelman, Sonia de los Santos and Barry Mitterhoff in a historic concert at Kaufman Center's Merkin Concert Hall in New York City.

Later that year, they also toured the West Coast of the U.S.A. with him as part of the show "Holiday House Party With Dan Zanes and Friends" making stops at the Moore Theater,[69] Mondavi Center Jackson Hall,[70] Herbst Theatre,[71] and ending with a three-week residency at the New Victory Theater on Broadway.[72][73] As part of the tour The Villalobos Brothers played and sang Holiday music from their native Veracruz, and also shared the stage with Dan Zanes, Palestinian Arabic-jazz buzuq player Tareq Abboushi, drummer Colin Brooks, English designer and director Julian Crouch, Mexican guitarist and vocalist Sonia de los Santos, accordionist/saxophonist John Foti, renowned tap dancer Derick K. Grant, bass player Saskia Sunshine Lane, fiddler/trumpeter Elena Moon Park, vocalist Basya Schechter, and Palestinian percussionist/composer Zafer Tawil.[35]

The Shul Band: Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camps

The Villalobos Brothers have been frequent collaborators of The Shul Band, a klezmer band led by Adam Feder.[1] In 2005 Ernesto Villalobos and Adam Feder led a candlelit vigil at the children's barracks inside the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum as part of Bernie Glassman's 2005 Bearing Witness Zen Peacemakers retreat in Oswuecim, Poland.[74][75]

Town Hall Theater

On November 30th, 2004 Ernesto Villalobos gave a soloist performance at the The Town Hall Theater in Manhattan. This performance was the world premiere of "La Promesa del Guerrero" a symphonic piece written and performed by Ernesto Villalobos featuring tenor Mauricio O'Reilly. Ernesto was commissioned by conductor Alondra de la Parra and her orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas. This 20-minute composition, was based on a poem by Manelick de la Parra, and it narrates the nahua legend of the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl mountains outside Mexico City. The concert marked the closing night of the 2004 Celebrate MexicoNOW! Festival organized by Claudia Norman (November 30th, 2004)[76][77]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Sipher, Devan. "Torah, Wine and ... Electric Mandolin". The New York Times.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Marshall, Helen. "USCIS Letter". Office of the President of the Borough of Queens. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Sipher, Devan (January 12, 2007). "The Villalobos Brothers: Spiritual Sounds". The Forward.
  4. ↑ Visit Mexico, Mexican Tourism Board. "Guggenheim Museum". Mexican Tourism Board. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  5. ↑ NOTIMEX, NTX/APC/NMN (20 September 2011). "Celebrará Museo Metropolitano de NY el Mes de la Herencia Hispana". Yahoo News. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  6. ↑ The Mexican Cultural Institute of New York, MCINY (Oct 2, 2011). "Celebrating Hispanic and Latin American Culture at the Metropolitan Museum". La Vitrina, The Mexican Cultural Institute of New York. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  7. ↑ Nicole, Ann. "United Nations 60th Anniversary Gala". United Nations Association of New York.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 Abaroa, Gabriel. "NYC Latin Grammy's Villalobos Brothers". Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc.
  9. ↑ Kamen, Morley. "Days Like These". Epinions.com. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  10. ↑ Palmieri, Eddie. "Ritmo Caliente". abbdiscography.com. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  11. ↑ Morrow, Terry. "Dolly Parton performing with Calpulli Dance Co.". Knoxville.com. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  12. ↑ Jurek, Thom (September 7, 2006). "Love Comes Quietly". All Music. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  13. ↑ Zanes, Dan. "Nueva York!". ArtistDirect.com. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  14. ↑ Rengger, Katharina. "Letter of Agreement". Lucerne Festival. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  15. ↑ Uriarte, Edurne (20 May 2008). "Sonido Universal". New York: NY Daily News / nydailynews.com.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Villalobos Brothers, Album. "Villa-Lobos". We Sound Better Music. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Calendar, Joes Pub at the Public Theater. "Ernesto Villa-Lobos". The Public Theater. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  18. ↑ López Pérez, Guadalupe. "Diploma, Licenciatura en Música". Universidad Veracruzana. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  19. ↑ Notas Culturales (December 16, 1997). "Alejandro y Arturo Flores Villalobos: Vivir Para El Reto De Tocar Un Violín". Diario de Xalapa. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  20. ↑ Vázquez Pacheco, Jorge (May 13, 2002). "De Cal y de Arena: Alberto Flores". Diario de Xalapa. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  21. ↑ Pacheco, Jorge (January 15, 2001). "Alberto Arturo Flores Villalobos". Gazeta Universitaria, Universidad Veracruzana. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  22. ↑ Espectáculos Culturales, Cartelera (October 16, 1998). "Instrumentalistas Vienen A Tercer Festival de Piano". El Comercio (Lima, Perú). Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  23. ↑ Festivales (October 17, 1998). "Una Mirada A Los Jóvenes Músicos Del Festival". El Comercio. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Neighbors, Mark. "Fulbright Grant". International Institute of Education.
  25. ↑ Istomin, Martha. "Manhattan School of Music Master's Diploma". Manhattan School of Music.
  26. ↑ Oistrakh, Igor. "Diplom". Internationale Sommerakademie Mozarteum. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  27. ↑ Oistrakh, Igor. "Letter to Boulez". Igor Oistrakh. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  28. ↑ Bron, Zakhar. "Diplom". Wiener Meisterkurse für Music. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  29. ↑ Die Rektorin. "Zulassung für das wintersemester". Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Freiburg. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  30. ↑ Schiller, Robert. "translate Bestätigung über die bestandene Zulassungsprüfung". Universitat Mozarteum Salzburg. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 Collins, María Antonieta (July 26, 2007). "Los Hermanos Villalobos". TELEMUNDO 47. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  32. ↑ Celebrate Brooklyn, 2008. "Celebrate Brooklyn: Lila Downs, The Villa-Lobos Brothers, and Grupo Norteño". Freedom Love Fest. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Tepeyac Association. "Leaders of the Future". Tepeyac Association. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  34. ↑ Abaroa, Gabriel. "President". The Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Inc. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Show Schedule, 2008-2009. "Holiday House Party With Dan Zanes And Friends". New Victory Theater. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  36. ↑ United Nations Radio, Project"15". "2011 World's Best Radio Programs". New York Festivals.
  37. ↑ Magallan, Joel. "Tepeyac Association Excellence Awards". Tepeyac Association.
  38. ↑ Delécole, Anne. "Carta a becario". Fondo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  39. ↑ Villalobos, Alberto. "Cursos de violín: Principios de la Ejecución del Violín". Alberto Villalobos. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  40. ↑ Presidente de la República, Dr. Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León (July 26, 2000). "Comunicado No. 2326". Vocero de la Presidencia de México. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  41. ↑ Estrada Rodríguez, Luis Alfonso. "Constancia, Primer Lugar". Escuela Nacional de Música. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  42. ↑ Pacheco, Jorge. "Destacados Alumnos de Música Fueron Premiados". Diario de Xalapa. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  43. ↑ Slim, Carlos. "Becario Telmex". Fundación TELMEX. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  44. ↑ Gambacorta, Leo. "Production Sheet, Family Concert Series". Carnegie Hall.
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 Calpulli Dance Co. "Performances and Tours". Calpulli Mexican Dance Company. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  46. ↑ Harris, Hope. "Cousins Jamboree". Holcomb Rock Road. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  47. ↑ The Chieftains, Album. "San Patricio". Hear Music. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  48. ↑ Zanes, Dan. "Nueva York". Festival Five Records. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  49. ↑ Feder, Adam. "Instrumental". The Shul of New York. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  50. ↑ Kamen, Morley. "Days Like These". Universal Music, France. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  51. ↑ Stern, Leni. "Love Comes Quietly". Leni Stern Recordings.
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 Anita, Gates (July 30, 2006). "An Anguished Life and Love Set Free At Last in Death". The New York Times.
  53. ↑ Carter, Todd. "The Looking". Astraea Records. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  54. ↑ Hubbard, Rene. "Chicavasco". Rana Santacruz. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  55. ↑ Lavner, Lilly. "Walking Away". K-Studios. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  56. ↑ Palmieri, Eddie. "Ritmo Caliente". Concord Records. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  57. ↑ Laura, Kwiatkowsky. "Gender Equality And 15 Year-Olds, a series by the United Nations Radio Unit". United Nations.
  58. ↑ McEwan, Caitlin. Moving Pictures "Moving Pictures, a film by Caitlin McEwan". 12 Weeks 12 Films.
  59. ↑ Temtchine, Richard. "How To Seduce Difficult Women". Quadrant Entertainment.
  60. ↑ Chapa, Javier. "Harvest of Redemption, a film by Javier Chapa". Chapa-Perez Entertainment.
  61. ↑ Fischer, Juan. "Buscando a Miguel, a film by Juan Fischer". IMDB.com.
  62. ↑ Ibarra, Cristina. "The Last Conquistador, a film by John J. valadez and Cristina Ibarra". PBS Point of View.
  63. ↑ QTP Calendar of Events. "Zona Rosa". Queens Theatre in the Park. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  64. ↑ Events and Programming (May 14, 2011). "Zona Rosa at [http://www.queenstheatre.org/ Queens Theatre in the Park]". NYDailyNews.com (New York). Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  65. ↑ Cape Play House, Director. "Jenny Sullivan". Cape Play House. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  66. ↑ Boscov, Ellen. "The Roses On The Rocks". Theater Theater Source. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  67. ↑ Jenny Seham, Director. "Volando a México". National Dance Institute. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  68. ↑ Dubé, Brian. "Blue Country Heart". Brian Dubé. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  69. ↑ Armstrong, Doree (December 4, 2008). "Join the global house party with Dan Zanes and friends". SeattlePI.com. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  70. ↑ Mondavi Center, Presenting Program. "Dan Zanes Holiday House Party". UCDavis. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  71. ↑ Show Schedule, 2008. "Dan Zanes and Friends: Holiday House Party". Goldstar.com. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  72. ↑ Snook, Raven (November 20, 2008). "Review: Holiday House Party With Dan Zanes And Friends". Time Out New York. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  73. ↑ Graeber, Laurel (December 26, 2008). "Spare Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  74. ↑ Cunningham, Peter. "Vigil at the Children's Barracks". Word Wise Web. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  75. ↑ Cunningham, Peter. "Auschwitz-Birkenau Bearing Witness Retreat". Word Wise Web. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  76. ↑ POA, Past Concerts. "La Promesa del Guerrero". Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  77. ↑ Brennan, Juan Arturo (February 5, 2005). "Alondra de la Parra, directora". La Jornada. Retrieved 27 June 2011.

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