Synopsis
D.R. Ransdell would have never guessed that nostalgia for living in Mexico would lead her to join a mariachi band in Tucson, Arizona. Nor would she have guessed that learning by ear could be such a devilish challenge. Despite scheming rivals and flirtatious compadres, she persevered. She participated in stage performances and rowdy house parties while learning song after song. In her book the former Illinoisan recounts memorable evenings at El Mariachi Restaurant and describes the exasperating process of relearning technique and new musical traditions. Her cheerful vignettes inspire readers to embrace their own love of music as well as this amazing art form. Ransdell begins her story in Mexico, where she first encountered a mariachi band. Although she later played in an orchestra, she was intrigued by a friend’s tales of playing folk music. She loved teaching English in Durango, Mexico, but pitifully poor wages drove her to Tucson, Arizona, where she wiggled into a mariachi band herself. Getting into the group was the easy part. To her great surprise, none of the music was written down! She needed to learn parts without the benefit of sheet music, and then she needed to keep all the songs straight. She had no practice at learning by ear, and she didn’t have a strong musical memory. She had to resort to a tape recorder and lots of hours of practice to start the very long process of learning to fit in with the group. Despite hardships, she relished the time she spent performing at a local restaurant. She became friends with her fellow performers and learned to accept their foibles. Through set after set, she found immense pleasure in performing beloved songs. She also played at resorts, private parties, cemeteries, and open houses. She even had the chance to meet famous musicians such as Vicente Fernández and Vikki Carr. Once her group disbanded, Ransdell had to reinvent her musical self. She describes in detail the ego-shattering process of taking lessons and relearning to read music. She shares her musical aspirations but also speaks candidly of problems and laughable situations she encountered along the way. Her memoir is a love song to mariachi playing. The anecdotes, all truthful in nature, point out the challenges of learning this style of music but also detail some of the more immediate rewards. The information makes mariachi music more accessible to readers who are unfamiliar with this style, but it will draw empathy as well as laughter from music lovers as well as musicians, whether they play on stage or in their backyards.
About the Author
D.R. (Diane Renée) Ransdell is a writer, musician, teacher, and traveler. Originally from Springfield, Illinois, she started playing the violin at the age of ten. After majoring in Spanish she spent five years teaching English in Durango, Durango, Mexico. When she returned to the US, she moved to Tucson because of its warm climate and friendly Hispanic population. Two months later she joined a mariachi and has played Mexican music ever since. She writes a murder mystery series about mariachi band leader Andy Veracruz and travel novels about violinist Rachel Campanello and her sister Gina. D.R. teaches writing at the University of Arizona, where she specializes in composition for international students. She also mentors graduate students. She spends summers traveling, but in Tucson you’ll find her at the pool or in her backyard rescuing lizards from her cats. Please visit her website at dr-ransdell.com or shoot an email to drr@dr-ransdell.com.
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