Romantic music of Mexico on stage Friday

  Some of Mexico's most romantic music is coming to Yuma on Friday, when a cellist and 11 strolling guitarists will take to the stage.

  The Cultural Council of Yuma and the Mexican Consulate are hosting a traditional rondalla performance, a musical experience very different from the better-known mariachi music.

  "The music they play is very romantic, the music used in Mexico to serenade," said Virginia Reyes, executive director of Cultural Council of Yuma. "This type of group is also very classy. If mariachi is like tequila, then rondalla is like wine."

  The group Rondalla Voces y Cuerdas del CESUES will perform at 7 p.m. Friday at the Historic Yuma Theatre, 254 S. Main St. Tickets are $5 in advance or $10 at the door. For more information, call 783-2423 or 373-0252.

  Rondalla Voces y Cuerdas del CESUES comes to Yuma from CESUES University in San Luis Rio Colorado, Son. The group, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary, has been sharing its music at annual concerts in Yuma for eight years. It has performed throughout the United States and Mexico, placing first in a major national competition in Mexico City.

  The performers in the rondalla tradition stand in a half-moon formation and dress in nice, formal suits.

  Reyes explained that the rondalla tradition comes from Spain and found its way to the Philippines and Mexico, both which have their own rich rondalla traditions.

  Audiences usually expect a blend of ballads, boleros and folk music.

  "Their voices go very well with the guitars and the harmony is very nice," Reyes said. "In Mexico these groups usually start out at and belong to a university."

  Rondalla Voces y Cuerdas del CESUES features former students who are now engineers, administrators and accountants.

---
Darin Fenger can be reached at
dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.