About

Xihuitl means “year” (also “turquoise” and “fire”) in Nahuatl, Aztecs’ language and one of the most widely-spoken indigenous languages of the Americas.

The Aztec calendar and culture served as an inspiration for this musical piece, thus the name chosen “Xihuitl”.

Process

Many instruments were played by hand and recorded, including. flute, ocarina, bamboo percussion, drums, Udu Undongo, shakers, didgeridoo, etc. First step was to get the rhythm bed properly laid out, and then, the more melodic instruments would create the atmosphere of the piece.

To get this raw and tribal feel it was important to choose the right instruments, the ones with a “wood” or “earth” like sound.

Some of these were used in similar projects but separately (pieces for private clients), and that’s why I decided to join them in this little composition, as a showcase for a more raw and tribal work.

Final Product

Listen to “Xihuitl” and how it progresses throughout the song.

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