Arpex - �Tierra Caliente! Music from the Hotlands of Michoac�n by Conjunto de Arpa Grande Arpex

The conjunto de arpa grande (big harp ensemble) is the country cousin of the Mexican mariachi. When the mariachi was transplanted to cities and added trumpets in the mid 20th century, the conjunto de arpa stayed home in the towns and on the ranches of rural Michoac�n. Its two violins, two guitars, and harp (that doubles as a drum) play driving sones, sentiment-saturated ranchera songs of love, and farcical valonas (poemic narratives), all with a disarming directness that is the hallmark of one of Mexico's best-kept musical secrets. 36-page booklet, photos. 50 minutes.