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Here Comes the Band
Tunnel book by Gloria Morales inspired by popular Mexican bands. "Men and women, but especially children run out when they hear the band." The front panel depicts just that, villagers stirred by the sounds of drum and flute, clarinet, trombone, saxophone and sousaphone, running to see. Peer with them through a peep-hole in a pictured wall down into an arched and cobble-stoned alley and watch the band promenade, playing.
Popular bands began developing in the early sixteenth century, about the same time as military and marching bands. Like much in Mexico, the bands had their roots in tradition. Prior to colonization, people played native instruments—drums, flutes, whistles, ocarinas, and sea shells—at religious ceremonies. But, during nearly three centuries of Spanish rule, these ceremonies were forbidden and participants punished. Forced to adopt the Catholic faith, they learned to play and sing to their new God. Even so, the music they played acquired its own flavor, a result of indigenous traditions spiced with European and African influences. Popular bands evolved throughout the centuries and still play a wide variety of music. Almost every small city or town has at least one band that plays at festivities, both public and private, civic and religious.
This delightful celebration of a Mexican cultural tradition is printed by Xerox Transfer from the original and expressive watercolors on Fabriano Uno paper which has been mounted on board. The tunnel opens to approximately 15 inches in depth and is housed in a clamshell box. The box, in turn, is illustrated with the approach to the village square and has a leather tie closure. A brief, explanatory text is letterpress printed from Garamond type on the inside lids in both Spanish and English. This is a First Bilingual Edition following a very small, unboxed, 1999 edition. (8 x 9.5 x 1 inches boxed.)
$400 (Last copy)
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