Experiencing Interruptions?

Yxayotl: Music of Ancient Mexico

Traveling back in time to the golden age of Ancient America; the late Maestro Xavier Quijas Yxayotl - a direct descendant of the Huichol Indians of Jalisco Mexico - demonstrated the power contained in the ancient musical instruments that our ancestors played for more than 2,000 years. The Olmecs, Toltecs, Aztecs, and Maya were great civilizations and they left us this power and strength in our blood. He brought that mysterious world of ancient rhythms, spirit, and energy of the indigenous people of this continent back to life. Through his Fire Flute, The Death Whistle, The Wind Flute, and his many Aztec & Mayan clay flutes, the music came from a source within his spirit, as well as his name which means ‘Tears’ in Nahuatl.

He transcended the ages by making his ancestors breathe life into his instruments. The music flowed in his veins with the blood found from the clay of mother earth. His ancestors guided him through the spiritual world and made the music come alive again. The ancient dances, full of life and color, were meant to be seen. The feathers, drums, rattles, and clay flutes are brought to life & create an allegory with the music and movements of the ancient dances. The music flowing thru the dancers’ bodies communicates with the Great Spirit and heals your mind, your body, and your soul. The music is meant to arouse the sleeping spirit inside of all people. It’s meant to awaken a world long forgotten by the modern-day world. The obstacles he overcame made his music stronger, powerful, and more spiritual as he sings to mother earth. His music cannot be explained by mere words alone. It’s meant to be seen, to be heard, and to be felt by humanity. You need to discover this gift that he had in order to stir the spirit dormant inside of you. So that you can feel the gift he was blessed with. The message he brought to the world, thru his music, is a true gift from the Creator. He was born to do this. He made Mother Earth Sing.

The late Maestro Yxayotl performed at the opening ceremony for the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize event in Rome, giving blessings to the Dalai Lama, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Jimmy Carter. In 2005, Maestro Yxayotl also performed at the United Nations Gala in New York City, and in 2006, Mel Gibson purchased many of the Maestro's clay flutes to be used in the soundtrack of his movie Apocalytpo. While, in 2008, Maestro Yxayotl performed and opened at Yanni Voices, in Acapulco airing on PBS.

“When you are in contact with your inner self, when it’s time to respect the creator of the universe, the Mother Earth, the soul, the sacred cycle of life and death, the Ancestral Spirit and the cosmic race, this is when the magical and divine ritual arrives with ancestral sounds, that speak a spiritual language, that only the soul will recognize. All that I do comes from a spirit within me, music is a live representation of nature. Our goal is to resurrect this cultural identity through the preservation of ancient instruments, music, and dance demonstrating the diversity of our ancestry in Ancient America.” ~ Xavier Quijas Yxayotl ~

  • Alberto A. Cuauhtlequezqui Lopez
    Director
  • Alberto A. Cuauhtlequezqui Lopez
    Producer
  • Xavier Quijas Yxayotl
    Key Cast
    Fireflute, Crossroads, Codex
  • Alberto A. Cuauhtlequezqui Lopez
    Writer
  • Alberto A. Cuauhtlequezqui Lopez
    editor
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature, Web / New Media
  • Genres:
    cultural, indigenous, native mexico', aztec music, mayan music, aztec dance
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 5 minutes 32 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 17, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    mini dv, vhs
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 2022 new york film awards
    new york city
    United States
    winner feature documentary
  • 2022 marina del rey film festival

    June 19, 2022
    north american premiere
    official selection
  • 2022 chicago indie film awards
    chicago, IL
    United States
    official selection
  • 2022 LA Indies
    los angeles
    United States
    nominee best feature documentary
  • 2022 cine pobre film festival
    baja california sur
    Mexico
    honorable mention
Director Biography - Alberto A. Cuauhtlequezqui Lopez

My name is Alberto Alcaraz Cuauhtlequezqui López Jr., I am a direct descendant of the Purépecha Indians of Michoacán, Mexico. My great-great-grandmother was a 116-year-old Purépecha Indian from Puruandido, Michoacán.

I am also a Board Certified Clinical Perfusionist by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion, (ABCP). With 20 years of experience being in charge of the heart-lung machine during open heart surgery. I keep patients alive when they are "halfway mostly dead" during heart transplants, lung transplants, valve surgery, or coronary artery bypass surgeries. I also care for and clinically support and keep patients alive during Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation or ECMO. Which is an advanced life support system that was also used in patients with Covid 19.

However, My Real Journey began when I was first introduced to the Mexicayotl, or the Mexican Red Road at the age of 32 in San Jose, California.

I started this journey searching for more knowledge about my Native Mexican identity and an appreciation for my rich cultural history. After meeting both Maestro Ocelocoatl, from (Calpulli Tetzahuitl Tezcatlipoca & Zemanahuac Tlamachtiloyan), Mexhico Tenochtitlan (Mexico City); & the late Maestro Xavier Quijas Yxayotl from Jalisco, Mexhico; they both became my spiritual guides, friends, and family in this long and enlightening journey starting almost 22 years ago.

It began with me participating in my First Aztec Dance Ceremony celebrating the Winter Solstice of 2002, in San Jose, California. During the ceremony I also participated in an, IN TOCA TOCAITL. It was a naming ceremony where I received, or was endowed with, my Mexhica /Azteca name. My Mexhica name, Cuauhtlequezqui, translates into Eagle Tattooed with Blood, in the Nahuatl language. The first name bearer being a great spiritual leader of the seven Aztec nations that emigrated from the desert south west of the future united states. The area known as Aztlan, beginning in 1065.

After returning home to Chicago two years later, I formed a group called Huey Tlahtokan ~ La Gran Palabra, Indigenous Cultural Diffusion of ChicagoAztlan (c). In the late fall of 2004, I organized my First community event with Maestro Ocelocoatl in the community of Pilsen in Chicago, IL where I grew up.

It was a Five day Series of lectures on Aztec philosophy and Science that got the attention of several universities who approached me with an interest to sponsor and expand more events to several of the Local elementary, high school, & universities.

These events consisted of many Live multimedia presentations, clay workshops, Nahuatl language workshops, children's art workshops; film festivals; and the first of many Azteca / Mexhica Summer Solstice Dance Ceremonies.

Even while I continued to focus on the Mexican community of Pilsen, the university affiliations this led me to continue organizing many more community events for many years to follow with both Maestro Ocelocoatl & the late Maestro Xavier Quijas Yxayotl. A journey with many more years to come.

It's with great pride and humility, that I present this unique, spiritual, and musical documentary about a very special and gifted man who Made Mother Earth Sing.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

IN MOYOLLOTL IN TEOTL IHUAN MA CUALLI OHTLI.
May The Energy of The Creator Fill Your Heart & May Your Path and Journey In Life Go Well.
Cuauhtlequezqui