Every Thursday and Sunday La Banda de Música del Estado plays for free in the Plaza de Armas.
It is an open secret that practically any evening of the week, you can enjoy a free band concert played from the large gazebo in the Plaza de Armas, on the south flank of Guadalajara’s cathedral.
What is perhaps less known is that the band that performs there every Thursday and Sunday, La Banda de Música del Estado, has a continuous history of nearly 130 years and boasts 50 musicians and a director, many of whom are professional musicians in the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra.
Not only that, but the Banda del Estado probably puts on a better concert than other groups. This distinction is due in no small measure to its director of 14 years, Federico Palacios, who, incidentally, is the principal trumpet player in the Philharmonic and who has the stature and know-how to get the best performance from his group of oompers, tooters and tweeters.
But despite their august credentials, the Band is known for its accessibility. It has its loyal followers and even a couple of quirky ones who dance or sell things at each outdoor performance. Palacios greets many listeners personally before the music starts and he regularly invites children up to direct the final piece.“Those children only direct for about 30 seconds, but they will never forget that experience,” he says with a grin.
And the Band may be grounded in classical music, but they also play many widely popular pieces and even take audience requests.
“But not for the same day,” Palacios noted. “We play from written music, not from memory. So if we get a request, we may play it a week or two later.”
The repertoire changes weekly too, he explained. Each Thursday, the one-hour program, which could include music from a movie such as “Pirates of the Caribbean,” a Glenn Miller piece, Moncayo’s famed “Huapango,” is entirely new. The program is repeated on Sunday and then, the following Thursday, a new program is presented.
This means that the three practice days the band puts in each week are well utilized.
Palacios says that he puts in many more hours on his own, choosing and studying the pieces the Band will play, and sometimes adapting the music for the band, which plays outdoors and, of course, does not include quieter instruments such as pianos, violins, cellos and other instruments that could easily get damaged in the elements.
Palacios notes that many foreigners are among listeners at the Band’s concerts, either sitting in the many benches or standing near the gazebo in the Plaza de Armas. “They get to hear music that is not often heard. It could bring up memories for them.”
He added that in the patriotic month of September, the Band will play all Mexican numbers, although not mariachi. “We’ll perform music by well known composers such as Agustin Lara and Consuela Velazquez, probably ‘Estrellita’ by Manuel M. Ponce and ‘Guadalajara’ by Pepe Guizar,” he said, adding an invitation to people in Ajijic.
“People of all ages like to come out to the centro and buy an ice cream or a balloon, go to Mass, and then come to our concert,” he said warmly.
Banda de Música del Estado plays Thursdays and Sundays, 6:30 p.m., at the Plaza de Armas next to Guadalajara’s main cathedral.