Yol K'u: Mayan Mountain Music

(CD+DVD set) Music composed and performed on giant marimbas by Mayan Indian schoolchildren in San Mateo Ixtatan in the mountains of Northern Guatemala, coached by composer Dave Soldier. Some pieces are made using games to compose music that sounds like American minimalism and hip hop in Chuj, the local language, others are traditional repertoire. The film, Xapin & Axul, was written and acted by the kids, a sort of Chuj language version of Romeo and Juliet with scenes of the children playing and composing their own music in San Mateo. 30 minutes. NTSC all region.