Dia De Los Muertos Concert
As a part of the World Language and Culture department’s celebration of Dia De Los Muertos about fifty faculty and students hopped onto Zoom to hear Freddy Granillo and Sergio Cilla perform songs of mourning, death, loss and hope.The evening’s concert was presented by the William James Forum and hosted by faculty members Elena Deanda and Martin Ponti.
From Professor Ponti’s living room, the duo of Granillo and Cilla performed a set filled with popular folk and protest songs from throughout Latin America. “Gracias A La Vita” kicked off the festivities followed by a brief presentation by Professor Deanda outlining the histories and traditions of Dia De Los Muertos.
Other musical highlights of the night included Angela Agular’s “La Llorona” and “Como La Cigarra” by Maria Elaine Walsh. The music only ceased when it was time for student’s to show the altars and skulls which they had decorated for the event.
In a year that has faced everyone with change and loss, a celebration such as this one seemed timely in the wake of a strenuous fall. As students and faculty learned, Dia De Los Muertos is a way for people to grieve and process the changes in our life as a community.
