The Villalobos Brothers
Goals
Goals
- Experience a Lincoln Center performance by the Villalobos Brothers
- Deepen the experience through reflection, poetry, and mask-making.
- Explore themes of absence and presence
Scroll down for a video and corresponding activities. You can replay the link for reference as you experience the activities below.
Scroll down for a video and corresponding activities. You can replay the link for reference as you experience the activities below.
Video
Video
The Villalobos Brothers perform “Ausencia de tí” (composed by Alberto Villalobos) in the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse at Lincoln Center’s American Songbook. Recorded on March 13, 2015.
The Villalobos Brothers perform “Ausencia de tí” (composed by Alberto Villalobos) in the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse at Lincoln Center’s American Songbook. Recorded on March 13, 2015.
Something to know:
Something to know:
Masterfully blending the indigenous rhythms and melodies of their native Veracruz with the intricate harmonies of jazz and classical music, the Villalobos Brothers deliver an intoxicatingly virtuosic musical brew that will redefine your notions of Latin song.
Masterfully blending the indigenous rhythms and melodies of their native Veracruz with the intricate harmonies of jazz and classical music, the Villalobos Brothers deliver an intoxicatingly virtuosic musical brew that will redefine your notions of Latin song.
Born and raised in Xalapa, Mexico, the brothers took up the violin as children and eventually moved on to specialize in classical violin and composition, developing their own style called “fast-chatting violin.“
Born and raised in Xalapa, Mexico, the brothers took up the violin as children and eventually moved on to specialize in classical violin and composition, developing their own style called “fast-chatting violin.“
Something to listen for:
Something to listen for:
The instrumental piece played by the Villalobos Brothers in this video is called “Ausencia de tí” which means “In Absence Of You”
The instrumental piece played by the Villalobos Brothers in this video is called “Ausencia de tí” which means “In Absence Of You”
Listen to the ways in which the Villalobos Brothers use the guitar and strings to express emotion.
Listen to the ways in which the Villalobos Brothers use the guitar and strings to express emotion.
Think of words you could use to describe these sounds and the emotions you get from the music. How do they reflect absence?
Think of words you could use to describe these sounds and the emotions you get from the music. How do they reflect absence?
Warm Up
Warm Up
Photo Credit: Kevin Yatarola
- Listen to the music
- Get in a comfortable position. Connect to your breath. Close your eyes if you like.
- Take a deep breath in for two counts and out for two counts.
- Take a deep breath in for four counts and out for four counts.
- Continue breathing as you stretch your arms out to the sides, then bring them into your chest as though you are giving yourself a hug.
- Bring your arms out to your side to make a line, then bring your arms back down.
- Continue to breathe and stretch as you listen to the music. Move to the music in any way that feels good to your body.
Reflection / Discussion
Reflection / Discussion
1. What do you notice about the Villalobos Brothers?
1. What do you notice about the Villalobos Brothers?
- What are they wearing?
- What instruments do you notice?
- How do they move their bodies while they play?
- What do you notice about the space they are in?
2. What did you notice about the music?
2. What did you notice about the music?
- How would you describe the instrumentation throughout the song?
- What story do you think the music is telling?
- How does the music make you feel?
Poetry and Mask-making Activity
Poetry and Mask-making Activity
The instrumental piece played by the Villalobos Brothers in the video is called “Ausencia de tí” which means “In Absence Of You”
The instrumental piece played by the Villalobos Brothers in the video is called “Ausencia de tí” which means “In Absence Of You”
Let’s reflect on the sensory experience of absence in two ways:
Let’s reflect on the sensory experience of absence in two ways:
Part 1: Create a haiku poem
Part 1: Create a haiku poem
Part 2: Making our own mask
Part 2: Making our own mask
Activity Video
Activity Video
This video will take you through the extension activity below with a facilitator.
This video will take you through the extension activity below with a facilitator.
You can choose to watch the video and do the activity along with it.
You can choose to watch the video and do the activity along with it.
And, you can also read the activity and participate by scrolling down.
And, you can also read the activity and participate by scrolling down.
Part 1: Haiku Poetry
Part 1: Haiku Poetry
- Inspired by the performance, write a word or a short sentence for each response….
Absence sounds like ______________________
Absence sounds like ______________________
Absence looks like________________________
Absence looks like________________________
Absence smells like _______________________
Absence smells like _______________________
Absence tastes like _______________________
Absence tastes like _______________________
Absence feels like ________________________
Absence feels like ________________________
My Example:
My Example:
Absence sounds like an echo
Absence sounds like an echo
Absence looks like light fog
Absence looks like light fog
Absence smells like chalk dust
Absence smells like chalk dust
Absence tastes like stale bread
Absence tastes like stale bread
Absence feels like a fleeting touch
Absence feels like a fleeting touch
2. Use the words from your sensory response above to make a haiku....
2. Use the words from your sensory response above to make a haiku....
A haiku is a short Japanese poetry form in which nature is often the subject.
A haiku is a short Japanese poetry form in which nature is often the subject.
A haiku poem is in three lines:
A haiku poem is in three lines:
The first line is five syllables,
the second line is seven syllables,
the third line is five syllables.
The first line is five syllables,
the second line is seven syllables,
the third line is five syllables.
Absence
Absence
5 syllables: ____________________________________
5 syllables: ____________________________________
7 syllables: ____________________________________
7 syllables: ____________________________________
5 syllables: ____________________________________
5 syllables: ____________________________________
My Example:
My Example:
In my example, I took words from my sensory responses and added dashes to mark the syllables...
In my example, I took words from my sensory responses and added dashes to mark the syllables...
Absence
Absence
5 syllables: ab-sence is chalk dust
5 syllables: ab-sence is chalk dust
7 syllables: a fleet-ing touch in the fog
7 syllables: a fleet-ing touch in the fog
5 syllables: sound of an ec-ho
5 syllables: sound of an ec-ho
Part 2: Mask-Making
Part 2: Mask-Making
Materials: Paper, ribbon or string, drawing tools.
Materials: Paper, ribbon or string, drawing tools.
Optional: Anything to decorate your mask (stickers, beads, etc.)
Optional: Anything to decorate your mask (stickers, beads, etc.)
The Villalobos Brothers incorporate masks in this performance of “Ausencia de tí.”
The Villalobos Brothers incorporate masks in this performance of “Ausencia de tí.”
All of the brothers wear masks except the main guitar player, reflecting absence and presence in their performance.
All of the brothers wear masks except the main guitar player, reflecting absence and presence in their performance.
1. Choose words from your sensory response and haiku above for inspiration in your mask creation….
1. Choose words from your sensory response and haiku above for inspiration in your mask creation….
You can use any of the words you associate with absence.
You can use any of the words you associate with absence.
In my example, I am using the words from my haiku.
In my example, I am using the words from my haiku.
absence is chalk dust
absence is chalk dust
a fleeting touch in the fog
a fleeting touch in the fog
sound of an echo
sound of an echo
2. Outline then cut out a shape based on the word(s) that you selected…
2. Outline then cut out a shape based on the word(s) that you selected…
In my example, I cut out a shape that reminds me of fog.
In my example, I cut out a shape that reminds me of fog.
3. Cut out two spaces for your eye holes, and create two small holes on each side where you will tie your ribbon or string…
3. Cut out two spaces for your eye holes, and create two small holes on each side where you will tie your ribbon or string…
4. Decorate your mask inspired by other words from your haiku…
4. Decorate your mask inspired by other words from your haiku…
In my example, I added dots to represent chalk dust and created identical shapes on both sides of the mask to represent an echo.
In my example, I added dots to represent chalk dust and created identical shapes on both sides of the mask to represent an echo.
5. Try on your mask!
5. Try on your mask!
6. Reflection
6. Reflection
- How did it feel to wear your mask?
- How does a mask represent absence?
- How does it represent presence?
Explore More
Explore More
Extension Questions:
Extension Questions:
- How do you think absence is represented and evoked musically?
- What are some of your favorite songs that describe or evoke the absence of something or someone?
- How might absence and presence work together in the same song?
Additional Links:
Additional Links:
- To learn more about the Villalobos Brothers, click here.
- To watch more videos from Lincoln Center at Home clips, click here.
Share:
Share:
Tell us what you think! Email us at access@lincolncenter.org to share your thoughts on the activities and website.
Tell us what you think! Email us at access@lincolncenter.org to share your thoughts on the activities and website.
