“La barca de oro” is a beloved song in Mexico, both used to say farewell before a voyage and a standard of memorial and funeral services. Written by Abundio Martínez, an indigenous composer of 19th-century Mexico, this work is rooted in the salon dances that were popular during his lifetime. This arrangement, by Mexican conductor Ahmed Anzaldúa, stays authentic to the roots of this song while highlighting the various nuances of the text, looking to connect all audiences to the deep meaning this song holds for many Mexicans… especially those living away from their homeland.

Composer’s Notes

“La barca de oro” is a song that gained popularity in the east coast of Mexico, particularly in the ports of the states of Veracruz and Tamaulipas. This song can be interpreted as someone setting out on a voyage, such as sailors saying goodbye to their loved ones and home, but also as a song about an allegorical golden ship that takes you to the afterlife. In Mexico, this is a standard song for memorial services and funerals. In both cases, it is a song about saying goodbye. This arrangement is in
the style of the salon dances that were popular in late 19th-century and early 20th-century Mexico, often featuring a lyrical rubato opening followed by a rhythmic middle section. The piano part in every performance is typically improvised, and is never meant to overtake the voices. Border CrosSing often adds an unobtrusive clave part to the rhythmic middle section to highlight its new character, but it is important to never lose the deep emotion and meaning of this song.
– Ahmed Anzaldúa

Apolonio Abundio de Jesús Martínez Martínez was born on February 8, 1875, in the state of Hidalgo in Mexico. He belonged\to the Otomí Nation, a group of indigenous communities located in the central Mexican plateau. Abundio Martínez wrote over 200 works, including waltzes, polkas, marches, and numerous dances and he was known during his lifetime as an extraordinary clarinet player and band director. His compositional style was strongly influenced by European romanticism and salon music and many of his works have gone on to become standards of Mexican mariachi singers and wind bands. While “La barca de oro” has been attributed to Martínez, there is reason to believe that at least the text may have been written by Arcadio Zúñiga y Tejeda, a 19th-century poet from the state of Jalisco. As with many works from this period that have become beloved folk music standards, authorship is difficult to determine and may even have been shared between the various people that have performed the work over the years.