My indigenous name is "Yxayotl", which in Nahuatl means tears. In 1977 during a peyote ceremony, an old Shaman from the Huichol tribe, Don Jose Matsuwa, gave me that name.

 

I was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico on December 28, 1952. I am proud to be a descendent of the Huicholes. During the 1970's, I decided to follow my dreams and to investigate and play the pre-Columbian music; that same music that was prohibited for 300 years due to its intensity and deep spiritual impact it had on the people of those times. My passion took me to the mountains of Jalisco and Nayarit, Mexico where I lived with the Huicholes and Tepehuanes for long periods of time.

 

I participated in indigenous ceremonies and rituals, sharing their knowledge. My passion for the handmade instruments, i.e.; Mayan and Aztec drums and flutes, Tarahumara drums, turtle shells, rain sticks, Teponaxtli log drums, Mayan ocean drums, rattles, gourds, and many others, grew without limits. With the experience and knowledge I acquired, and through the studies I did, I have become one of a few Mexican artists who are able to construct with my own hands instruments identical to the instruments used by the prehispanic peoples. They are replicas of the instruments used by the Aztecs, Mayas, and other indigenous nations from Mexico, and based on ancient manuscripts. The magic of my instruments is a faithful reproduction of the autochthonous musical instruments and the music is authentic and natural.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After researching the museums and private collections for these instruments, I have been able to reproduce these beautiful instruments. I brought the clay Mayan and Aztec double and triple flutes here to this country expressly to share this knowledge of the ancestors. The road traveled has not always been easy, but this music and my art "is my reason to live".

Most of my life has been spent constructing and playing these instruments. In looking at my cultural roots and musical roots, I realized music crosses all barriers! It was at this time in 1985 that I decided to form a group in Los Angeles and I named it America Indigena. The group is composed of people who share my musical sentiments. During our travels of concerts and ceremonies, we interpret the authentic music of the Mayans, Aztecs, Tarahumaras, Yaquis, Tepehuanes and Huicholes. I also sing in Tarahumara and my native Huichol and Nahuatl languages.

 

Besides musical performances and always creating new and different flutes, I am an artist. At the young age of eleven, I was placed into the the University of Fine Arts studying and working hard amongst the adults and other artists to become great at refining and fine tuning different art techniques. As a result, today I can create all styles of art. My preference is to paint very large paintings, and currently my focus has taken me to places of interest with California landscapes. Although, I am most known for my favorite art style of "Surreal-Mystic of Sacred Spirit".

 

RV: I read where you said that when trying to replicate your music that the road traveled has not always been easy but this music and my art and is the reason that I live. Could you explain what kind of obstacles you ran into?

 

Xavier: Many people have a lot of stereotypes about native culture, its music, tradition and location. People discount the Aztecs and Mayan culture as not being traditional Native American. People forget that before Mexico, there were no borders on the North American continent. I have been interested in my own heritage and began investigating Mayan and Aztec instruments that were once used.  There is over 2000 years of music tradition which I’m trying to bring back and educate people about. I’m going to speak my own language, my native and Spanish language. I tour with a group all over the world performing, educating and sharing history with them by using authentic, traditional music as well as historic dress and performance.

 

RV: Which instrument is your favorite?

Xavier:  I enjoy everything. I have in my home over 800 instruments, probably more. Flutes are my favorite instrument. I play about 80% of clay flutes only, which is my favorite. I like to play the same flutes that the Mayan played, but I also play bamboo, wood. I make replicas with clay like the Mayan people did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Click to listen”

 

RV: You designed your instruments based on how the Mayans designed theirs, how were you sure that the music would be identical, did you have a blueprint to go by?

Xavier: A long time ago, probably 30 years ago I was in the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. At that time I had a friend that was working there and he let me go into the museum to look inside some big boxes that they had. He showed me, many, many, many Mayan Flutes. They didn’t have them in exhibition but had them in packed in boxes. And ah man, I was like this is wonderful! I took some pictures. They let me play the flutes. I had one in my hands that was so beautiful, it had to be about 2000 years old.

When you look at the flutes very carefully they still

had finger prints in the clay. I couldn’t believe it! When I played them, they were still working wonderfully.  My skin chilled while I was playing them. I started thinking to myself, 2000 years ago someone made this flute and it’s still playing beautifully. It’s a wonderful feeling, I was ecstatic.

 

Little by little I was learning about how to replicate these flutes. I have clients all over the world and began sending the flutes that I made to everywhere including Europe. I also made flutes for the movie Apocalypto. When you hear the music, the instruments used in the film were flutes that I made which gave the sound track an authentic sound. I didn’t play them, but made them. The musicians played and scored them in London for the movie. I made 9 flutes for them with very good tone, the same kind of flutes that the Mayan played in the 13th century. They were very happy to play those flutes. I make my own flutes and play them, but when I sell my flutes and hear someone else play them it’s a little weird because I know the sound of the flutes that I make so it’s different hearing your self play versus hearing someone else play it.

 

We have to make the best of who we are. I work very hard all the time.  I don’t care, I’m, happy to do this. I enjoy the teaching and sharing that I do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RV: I’ve seen your paintings they are really great pieces of work. Can you tell me a little bit about your art?

 

Xavier: When I was a kid I really liked art and music because I saw my grandfather playing. I have traditions and enjoy painting but it’s not who I am. I took my roots and started to explore music and that’s where I felt the happiest. I enjoy creating art but not so much for exhibition as much as I enjoy creating it for myself. On the back of my latest CD is one of my latest paintings, this is mother earth crying.  It’s amazing to be able to create my own compositions, music and art and then bring them all together. I have a group that I travel with to many places. We go through the full regatta with feathers and everything. It’s very nice but sometimes I enjoy time to relax and enjoy playing music with my friends while talking about history and chatting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RV: Do you enjoy working with students?

Xavier: I have a lot of students in Los Angeles. This is cool. We teach the teenagers their own native language and how to dance. I have a lot of students in many places. I think it’s very important to keep the tradition, because one day I’ll need to go into the beyond and I wish to pass on my knowledge This is very important to me. Some of my students are now playing in their own groups using their own traditions. They have a respect for me and that’s good. In a way I’m teaching the teachers and they teach their kids.

 

RV: Do you have any projects going on now?

Xavier: Do you know the day of the dead celebration in Mexico? Here in Hollywood, Ca. they have a big cemetery that they call Hollywood Forever, and in this cemetery they buried famous people from the movie industry. Ten years ago we created an event called The Dead of the Dead Celebration. In this celebration they put flowers on the tombs, bring music and food for the spirits and celebrate the Holy Spirit and the people who have passed on. They make food for the spirits that come over. It gets bigger every year and is the only place in the entire united states that celebrate this tradition just like they do in Mexico.  There is something like 20,000 people that show up at this event which is growing more and more. Many people from all over the United States come over here to see it. We do music and dance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Click to listen”

 

I will also be attending a flute convention in Wisconsin. Many flute players all over the world will be coming to this wonderful convention. We have this celebration every two years.

 

I started playing my music in 1970. I grew up in this tradition, it’s in my blood. I learned to play on my own. I was interested in learning how to make and play instruments. I saw my grandfather play the flutes and drums and you know, watching him play, that’s why I’m involved with these instruments and music, it was part of my childhood. I laugh at people who say “I don’t know if I can do that”, the only thing that you have to do is follow your heart and just do it! It doesn’t matter who tells you that you can’t do it, just follow your heart, that’s it! People might say why do you want to do that? There’s no money in that! But there are different kinds of satisfaction. When you feel happy with what you are doing, you really enjoy it. You are growing within your inner self. You grow, learn and become happy. You have a mission in this life, it’s not all about the money. When successful people are working all their life and have money, that’s great but then when you are sick you spend all your money on this illness to be cured so what’s the point. You have to be happy with what you are doing.

 

It was a true honor to interview  Mr. Yxayotl . He is a very personable man with a very sincere passion for his music, art, people and heritage. Please visit Xavier Quijas Yxayotl’s website by clicking here to view more of his artwork and to listen to more of his inspiring music. Thank you Xavier.