Athens Eco Latino

	Julio / July 2006 Vol. 4 Número / Issue 4

Para la página central, haz click aqui / Click here for Home Page

Incatepec: mezcla de sonidos andinos y modernos

por Enrique Carrión

Para escuchar los sonidos típicos de la música andina no es necesario viajar hasta las alturas de Machu Pichu en Perú o el Lago Titicaca en Bolivia porque dos hermanos tocan las hermosas notas incas en Athens. Humberto y Noé Mendoza disfrutan tocando música andina y por esta razón decidieron formar el grupo Incatepec como una manera de "compartir la cultura hispana con los demás".

Humberto y Noé nacieron en Tlalnepaltla, México, a las afueras de Ciudad de México. Noé vivió en California durante 14 años antes de mudarse a Athens y Humberto llegó a Athens en 1999 y desde entonces han compartido su pasión por la música con su trabajo como mecánicos. "Comencé a trabajar como mecánico para poder comprar instrumentos, partituras y para pagar las clases de música", admite Humberto.

Los dos hermanos comenzaron a trabajar en mecánica porque uno de sus hermanos mayores ya lo hacía y con el tiempo, y después de leer libros y revistas sobre mecánica como Mecánica Popular, se han convertido en expertos en reparar autos. "Hemos llegado a tener nuestros propios talleres y ahora realizamos servicio a domicilio".

El nombre escogido para el grupo, Incatepec, es la unión de dos palabras: Inca del grupo indígena de ese nombre que vivía en la cordillera montañosa de los Andes en Sudamérica y Tepec que proviene de Centroamérica. Incatepec es un nombre que refleja el sentir de los hermanos Mendoza, habiendo nacido en México pero con una pasión por la música andina.

Humberto y Noé han sido invitados a tocar su música en varios lugares tales como en escuelas locales, la Biblioteca Pública del Condado Clarke, el Centro de Artes Lyndon House, ferias comunitarias, Big City Bread y en Atlanta, entre otros. "Con nuestra música, queremos preservar y compartir la cultura de nuestros países con la juventud hispana para que no se olviden de sus raíces y con la gente de este país para que sepan más sobre los países en Latinoamérica", explica Humberto. Por su parte, Noé añade, "Nos gusta mezclar ritmos tradicionales y modernos para que los jóvenes lo encuentren más interesante". Humberto y Noé tocan varios instrumentos pero sus especialidades son la flauta y la guitarra, respectivamente. Según Humberto, "El artista intenta plasmar algo en su obra pero termina plasmándose él mismo".

"La música de Incatepec es única y agradable. La variedad de instrumentos que utilizan produce un maravilloso sonido; algunas melodías son suaves y otras se te quedan grabadas", dice Clare Auwarter, directota asistente de los servicios para adultos de la Biblioteca Pública del Condado Clarke. "Humberto y Noe, junto con otro miembro del grupo, ofrecieron un gran recital".

Humberto y Noé también están muy involucrados en la comunidad hispana. Participan en reuniones y comités en nombre de los residentes hispanos del vecindario Pinewood Estates, donde ellos dos viven, y el resto de Athens. "Queremos ser parte de la comunidad y del proyecto comunitario", dice Noé. "Nos consideramos representantes de la comunidad hispana local". Los dos hermanos forman parte del Comité de la Biblioteca Pública en Pinewood Estates donde ofrecen ideas para realizar eventos y actividades educacionales. "Desde que se inauguró la Biblioteca de Pinewoods, Humberto y Noé han tenido una participación muy activa en muchos de los programas que se han implementados en el centro", señala Miguel Vicente, director de la Biblioteca de Pinewood. "Ellos, como integrantes del grupo Incatepec, hicieron su primera presentación musical en la inauguración de la biblioteca. Humberto ha enseñado clases de guitarra y habilidades básicas de música a niños y adultos, siempre de forma voluntaria".

Por su parte, en un esfuerzo de superación personal y para servir de ejemplo, tanto para jóvenes como adultos, Humberto está realizando estudios en Athens Tech para obtener el GED o equivalente de graduación de la escuela secundaria. "Ya he pasado los tres primeros exámenes y para finales de este verano tengo planeado graduarme", explica con orgullo Humberto.

Si desea contactar al grupo Incatepec, llame a Humberto y Noé al 706-425-9883 o envíe un correo electrónico a incatepec@mail2max.com.

Incatepec: a mixture of Andean and modern sounds

by Enrique Carrión

To hear the typical sounds of Andean music it is not necessary to travel to the heights of Machu Picchu in Peru or to Lake Titaca in Bolivia because two brothers play the beautiful Incan melodies in Athens. Humberto and Noe Mendoza enjoy playing Andean music and because of this decided to form the group Incatepec as a way to "share Hispanic culture with others." Humberto and Noe were born in Tlalnepaltla, Mexico, located on the outskirts of Mexico City. Noe lived in California for 14 years before moving to Athens, and Humberto arrived in Athens in 1999. Since then, they have shared their passion for music with their jobs as mechanics. "I began working as a mechanic in order to be able to buy instruments, musical scores and to be able to pay for music lessons," admits Humberto.

The two brothers began to work as mechanics because one of their older brothers already worked as one. With time, and after reading books and magazines about mechanics such as Popular Mechanics, they became experts in repairing cars. We have come to have our own shops and now we offer road service."

The name chosen for the group, Incatepec, is the union of two words: Inca, from the indigenous group of this name that lived in the Andean mountain chain in South America, and Tepec, which comes from Central America. Incatepec is a name that reflects the feelings of the two Mendoza brothers, having been born in Mexico, but with a passion for the music of the Andes.

Humberto and Noe have been invited to play their music in various places such as local schools, the Clarke County Public Library, the Lyndon House Arts Center, community fairs, Big City Bread, and in Atlanta, among others. "With our music, we want to preserve and share the culture of our countries with the Hispanic youth, so that they don't forget about their roots, and with the people of this country, so that they know more about the countries in Latin America," explains Humberto. For his part, Noe adds, "We like to mix modern and traditional rhythms, so that young people find it more interesting." Humberto and Noe play a number of instruments but their specialties are the flute and the guitar, respectively. According to Humberto, "The artist intends to express something in his art, but ends up expressing himself."

"Incatepec's music is fairly unique and thoroughly enjoyable. Their array of instruments produce a lovely sound; some melodies are light-hearted and others somewhat haunting," says Clare Auwarter, Asst. Director for Adult Services for ACC Public Library. "Humberto and Noe, along with their new bass player, gave a fine performance."

Humberto and Noe are also very involved in the Hispanic community. They participate in meetings and committees in the name of the Hispanic residents of the Pinewood Estates neighborhood, where the two live, and the rest of Athens as well. "We want to be part of the community and of a community project," says Noé. "We consider ourselves representatives of the local Hispanic community." The two brothers form part of the Athens-Clarke County Public Library Committee in Pinewood Estates, where they offer ideas for holding educational events and activities. "Since the Pinewood Library was inaugurated, Humberto and Noe have had a very active participation in many of the programs that are implemented at the center," points out Miguel Vicente, director of the Pinewood Library. "As members of the group Incatepec, they made their first musical presentation at the inauguration of the library. Humberto has taught guitar classes and basic music abilities classes to children and adults, always as a volunteer." For his part, in an effort of personal best and serving as an example, both to young people as well as adults, Humberto is completing his studies in Athens Tech in order to earn his GED, or equivalent of graduation from High School. "I have passed the first three exams and at the end of this summer I plan to graduate," Humberto proudly explains.

If you wish to contact the group Incatepec, call Humberto and Noe at 706-425-9883 or send an email to incatepec@mail2max.com.