Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Day of the Dead/Día de Muertos

Yesterday and today are celebrated in Mexico as the Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos in Spanish). It is an unusual custom, a synthesis of some indigenous traditions with those of Christianity including All Saint's Day. The Wikipedia article has lots of interesting details. Apart from private altars honoring deceased relatives, there are also events featuring catrinas, skeletons dressed in 19th century formal wear:


And parades and parties where people dress as catrinas:


So I thought I would acknowledge the occasion with some suitable music. We have to have Saint-Saëns Danse macabre, of course:


Here is some traditional Día de Muertos music:


And part of the soundtrack to the Bond movie Spectre with Day of the Dead music:



But how about some more classical music that might be suitable? The Dead March from Handel's oratorio Saul, performed at Lord Nelson's funeral:


And, of course, the Funeral March from Chopin's Piano Sonata No. 2:


Plus the second movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, the Marcia funebre:


Of course all that is a bit gloomy for the Mexican event which is, like all events in Mexico, pretty much a fiesta.

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