Conjunto

Susan Torres Nevarez, director 
J.J. Barrera, director

This concert will last about one hour without intermission.
Please silence your electronic devices.
Photography, video, or recording of any part of this performance is prohibited

Program

Eugenio Abrego   1922-1988
La Barranca 
(The Ravine)
Polka
 

Leonardo “Flaco” Jimenez   1939-2025
Lucerito   1988
(Little Star)
Ranchera
A song expressing the frustration of being in a non-committal relationship.   
 

Ruben Vela   1937-2010
El Coco Rayado   1994
(The Striped Coconut)
Cumbia
 

Alvaro Carillo   1919-1969
Sabor a Mi 1959
(The Taste of Me)
As the story goes, Carillo and his fiancé Ana, were having dinner during which Alvaro was drinking liquor and exchanging a few kisses with her.  Ana asked Carillo to stop kissing her because all she could taste was the liquor on his lips.  Carrillo said, “The taste you carry on your lips is not liquor, it’s the taste of me.”  It was then, the inspiration for the song was born. 
 

Tony De La Rosa   1931-2004
Elida
Early in his career, De La Rosa included a saxophone in his conjunto—an instrument that is uncommon with today’s Tex-Mex conjuntos.  This polka is commonly played by two accordions, with the second accordion mimicking the saxophone. 
 

Los Monarcas
Jalapeno Polka   2018
 

Vivan Keith & Ben Peters
Before the Next Teardrop Falls  1967
Tex-Mex Country
Although not strictly a conjunto piece, this is a song that the conjunto community readily embraces and was made popular by Freddy Fender.
 

Hector Quintero Ballesteros
Cumbia del Sol
(Cumbia of the Sun)
 This song celebrates the joy that community, music and dancing can bring while dancing under the sun.
 

Nicholas Hernandez  2025
La Cabra Sabrosa
(The Tasty Goat)
Tex-Mex Punk Polka
Nick is a student of the UT Conjunto ensemble, and he wrote this polka when he was hungry. Hence, the name of the polka!  The piece is reminiscent of music from Pinata Protest, a Tex-Mex punk band that embraces it’s Tex-Mex roots and punk culture.
 

Tony De La Rosa 
El Lucero  1991
(The Star)
Huapango
 

Leonardo “Flaco” Jimenez   1939-2025
Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio   1990
(I’ll Be Leaving You In San Antonio)
Ranchera
A breakup song about ending a relationship with a woman in San Antonio (and leaving here there), at the frustration of a non-committal relationship.