Ángel Tavira

Don Angel Tavira was born in Corralfalso, Guerrero (Mexico) on July 3, 1924. He is the direct descendant of an important line of traditional musicians, beginning with his grandfather, Bartolo Tavira, at the end of the 19th Century. He started playing the violin at age six and rapidly became an expert in the field. At thirteen, his life changed drastically because of an accident in which he lost his right hand. Despite this, he continued to do what he loves most: playing the violin.
During the course of his life, he has been a farmer, a musician, an elementary and high school teacher, among others. He has also dedicated a large part of his life to the training of several generations of musicians, At age sixty, he went to the Conservatory of Music in Morelia to study score transcription in an effort to save traditional music. To continue his dream, Don Angel was also musical director of the group Hermanos Tavira Band, one of the rare bands concerned with saving and maintaining original traditional music. Don Angel had his first experience in film with Francisco Vargas in the the making of the documentary Tierra Caliente...Se Mueven Los Que La Mueven— the story of Don Angel, and his efforts to preserve the musical heritage of his community, Tierra Caliente, Guerrero.

Film Movement