Artist: Elsa Ayllon Vega de Szeinfeld

Original recording date: circa 1972

As long as I can remember being me, I have heard my mom and grandmother play this song from their birth city in Ecuador. The song originates from a poem written in 1948 in Quito, Ecuador by Gustavo Eguez while missing his home city. Musician Carlos Rubira Infante later turned it into an iconic Ecuadorian pasacalle rhythm.

Ambato is a city south of Quito, high in the Andes along the Pan-American Highway. It is the capital city of the Tungurahua Province. It sits at 8,455 feet elevation. My mother called the weather as being an "eternal spring". Ambato is known for its Festival of Fruits and Flowers that is held every February during Carnival.

UNO Souls is a wellbeing organization that centers and nurtures each person so they may blossom into their fuller self. ✨

The next Camino Musical selection is a home recording of La Luna Enamorá played on the guitar by my mother, Elsa Ayllon Vega de Szeinfeld. This is a copla/flamenco song originally written by Bolaños, Durango and Villajos, lyrics by Cuban/Spanish singer Elsa Baeza in 1978.

UNO Souls is a wellbeing organization that centers and nurtures each person so they may blossom into their fuller self. ✨

Here is our next Camino Musical selection: The Girl from Ipanema (La Chica de Ipanema in Spanish) (Garota de Ipanema in Brazilian Portuguese) is a well-known Brazilian song in the classic bossa nova style, that was composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim in 1962. According to Wikipedia, it is believed to be the second-most recorded pop song in history, after "Yesterday" by the Beatles. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000, into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001, and it was chosen in 2004 by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry.

This is a home recording of my mother - Elsa Ayllon Vega Szeinfeld, playing the song on the piano. This is the first song that I have shared of my mother on the piano. The other songs have been of her playing the guitar.

UNO Souls is a wellbeing organization that centers and nurtures each person so they may blossom into their fuller self. ✨

Here is our next Camino Musical selection: an excerpt of the pasacalle, El Chullita Quiteño, which was arranged in 1947 by Alfredo Carpio Flores. It is the unofficial anthem of the Capital of Ecuador - Quito.

This is a home recording by my mother - Elsa Ayllon Vega Szeinfeld - also known to family as "Mama Elsita" and my grandmother - Maria Policarpa Vega Olivo - also known to family as "Mama Polita" 💞

UNO Souls is a wellbeing organization that centers and nurtures each person so they may blossom into their fuller self. ✨

Artist: Elsa Ayllon Vega Szeinfeld

Original recording date: circa 1981

This was a homemade recording that my Mom (Mama Elsita) made with her mom (Mama Polita) in 1981. It was an artistic production of Ecuadorian folkloric and indigenous music, that was performed in Arlington, Virginia November 19, 1981. They, along with other performers, wore Indigenous traditional dress. My mother and grandmother recited the introduction of the production in Spanish and Quechua (an indigenous language).

This is the English translation of what my Mother is saying: Here we are, amidst the landscape of our land, to offer you some modest melodies of our people, with rhythms and folkloric motifs from our Ecuador. Let us transport ourselves to Incan times, when the sun shone brilliantly in the clear and healthy minds of ingenious warriors. The Indigenous person, an expression of naturalness and simplicity, of native essence, as old as the people themselves. Everything that emerged from the land came to be called folklore.

The English explanation of what my Grandmother is saying in Quechua: She is welcoming the audience and letting them know that they will be performing indigenous music as an offering for the audience.

The song you will hear in this clip is called “Atahualpa”, composed by Carlos Bonilla Chávez in the 1940s. It is a song type called "Yumbo". The song blends traditional Andean music elements with contemporary sounds. It showcases intricate melodies and rhythms characteristic of Latin American music.

The song is about the last Inca emperor in the 1500s in Ecuador. In the 16th Century, the Incan Empire stretched from modern-day Colombia to Chile. Soon after that, as we know, European Colonization was forced, and it led to the collapse of the Incan Empire.

I am very proud of my mother, and her pride of the indigenous in Ecuador, which leads to my own pride about my heritage.

My mother would have celebrated her 97th birthday this past weekend.
From “Las Mañanitas” lyrics:

El día en que tú naciste

Nacieron todas las flores

En la pila del bautismo

Cantaron los ruiseñores

The song was written by Alfonso Esparza Oteo and has been performed by many great Mexican artists, including Vicente Fernandez.

Feliz cumpleaños, Mama Elsita 🎉🥳

Cover image: Mama Polita, Young Brigitta, and Mama Elsita before a park performance.

UNO Souls is a wellbeing organization that centers and nurtures each person so they may blossom into their fuller self. ✨

Artist: Elsa Ayllon Vega Szeinfeld

Original Recording Date: circa 1969

On this day (March 4), the 21st anniversary of my mother's transition, I would like to give her a tribute. Elsa Maria Policarpa Ayllon Vega Szeinfeld was a gifted musician from Ecuador. Sadly, there are no professional recordings of my mom performing. Thankfully, there are at least home recordings of her performing on either the piano, the guitar, or the accordion, along with singing. She also played the harp and the organ. She composed her own music and lyrics. She was a poet, a writer, and an artist. I will be highlighting her recordings here on UNO Camino Musical - through UNO Souls.

This piece is called La Malagueña Salerosa. This song is about a woman from Málaga, Spain. Lawrence J.J. Leonard wrote this in his blog: This song is a well-known “Son Huasteco” song from Mexico. It is in the public domain the same way the famous song, Cielito Lindo, is and also is very well-known in the Americas. Incidentally, Elpidio Ramírez registered the lyrics in 1947. However the song was already known as a type of “Huapango” which is a type of song written “long before the construction of the Cathedral of Huejutla.” In other words, it was already a well-known ballad. So, there seems to be no real claim to the song for Ramirez.

One thing that I know for sure, is that music is the universal language of love. Music is a connector, especially now. The post prompt is "What's on your mind?" Well, a lot... but at this present moment I am feeling joy because I found the memory drive with my mom's musical recordings.

🎼 Although the recordings are not high quality, I am grateful to have them. I will post her recordings on UNO Camino Musical - through @unosouls

UNO Souls is a wellbeing organization that centers and nurtures each person so they may blossom into their fuller self. ✨

Join us for a fascinating podcast chat with the authors of 'Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees' Beth Norcross and Leah Rampy.

We'll explore the profound connection between trees and spirituality. Tune in and celebrate the wisdom of trees!

Available here: https://a.co/d/aJ9TP12

UNO Souls is a wellbeing organization that centers and nurtures each person so they may blossom into their fuller self. ✨

I am honored to be chatting today with Mary Davis – Mary is an UNO Soul.

Mary Davis is a spiritual teacher and author of the books, Every Day Spirit: A Daybook of Wisdom, Joy and Peace, and the Every Day Spirit Gratitude Journal. She shares daily inspiration from her books with her social media followers as well as practices that unveil moments of spirituality in our daily lives. Mary is trained as a nurse and volunteers as a bereavement counselor for parents who have lost children and in hospice care. She has a house by the sea and lives a quiet life in harmony with nature. Learn more at: www.everydayspirit.net

Listen to Mary speak about where she got her inspiration for writing her books. Hear her beautiful words about the importance of nature and awe and inspiration.

Words of Wisdom from Mary: “Our thoughts matter. Our love matters. And we really can make a difference in the world.”

Thank you for chatting with me, Mary! We are grateful for you!

UNO Souls are beacons of light in our community that can be guides for loving each other, uniting, living in peace. I honor the light in all of you 🙏💕 .

UNO Souls is a wellbeing organization that centers and nurtures each person so they may blossom into their fuller self. ✨