Last week I had the immense pleasure to visit Victor Mario Zaballa in his colorful workshop in San Francisco. He’s an artist and musician who plays traditional instruments from ancient Mexico, like ocarinas, clay flutes, gourds, gongs, and many beautiful drums. We decided to try something new: mixing the Swiss alphorn with these indigenous sounds. It was a surprising and powerful combination, two very different traditions coming together through music.
Victor is well known for creating Día de los Muertos altars. They’re colorful, heartfelt, and full of meaning, honoring loved ones who have passed. Just like his instruments, they’re deeply rooted in Mexican culture and history. He possesses a wealth of knowledge about the indigenous Aztec and Mayan cultures, filled with captivating stories. His deep understanding of his heritage could easily fill a book, fortunately, he’s married to the renowned Swiss author Milena Moser, who actually did just that, writing Das schöne Leben der Toten (“The Beautiful Life of the Dead”).
Playing the alphorn with Victor’s instruments and the added chants sung by his friend Clarence felt really special, like a musical offering that connected us across cultures and time.”