Yo ya me voy a morir a los desiertos

Cardenche singing is a genre of unaccompanied polyphonic singing from the Comarca Lagunera, a region in northern Mexico located at the intersection of the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Durango. The word “cardenche” refers to a type of cactus that grows in this region. Ths cardenche cactus has hooked barbs that make them very painful, as they rip apart the flesh when they are extracted. In the same way, cardenche songs are meant to be “ripped out” of your body in the same way. The soul of cardenche singing is in capturing the extreme emotion of the text in the vocal tone and range. Themes that are common in cardenche singing are grief, death, and lost love.

Cardenche songs are transmitted in the oral tradition and typically sung with people sitting or standing very close to each other, with very long pauses between each phrase. They are sung by three or four different voice parts, each with its own unique role and sound. “Yo ya me voy a morir a los desiertos” is a classic song of the cardenche tradition and has three voice parts: the principal, contralta, and arrastre:

· The voz fundamental is the lead voice. It is in the middle of the harmony. In traditional cardenche, the principal singer determines the key and general tempo, and the principal always begins each phrase, with the other voices joining in harmony afterward. To sing the principal, it is essential to have accurate intonation, a clear tone without excessive vibrato, excellent diction, and a confident sense of rhythm.

· The voz contralta sings in the highest register in three-part cardenche. The best contralta singers fully commit emotionally while navigating the extreme high notes with a full-bodied tone that pierces the soul; the contralta is the “thorn” of the cardenche cactus.

· The voz de arrastre is the lowest part in the harmony and it drags behind the other parts, always slightly behind the principal and sliding from pitch to pitch. This dragging voice is one element that gives cardenche song its unique sound. Its role is to remain coordinated with the principal voice while also creating a strong foundation for the highest voices to move freely. Arrastre singers are often low basses or altos that sing with a rough, guttural vocal tone, which has led to this voice often being known as the “marrana” (Spanish for “pig”.).

Very few people today know and sing in the cardenche tradition, and for some time it was on the verge of disappearing entirely. Los Cardencheros de Sapioriz, singers based in the town of Sapioriz, Durango, have made it their mission to teach this genre of music to a new generation. They have toured the world and travel around Mexico to perform and teach the style, both in the traditional way and also developing a “choral style” of cardenche together with several Mexican choir directors. All of Border CrosSing’s proceeds from the sale of this score will be donated to Los Cardencheros de Sapioriz to help them fund this work.