On this episode of ReCurrent, Jaime Roque explores the music and instruments of the Florentine Codex, a 16th Century manuscript that recorded the life and culture of Mesoamerica at the time. A family home video floods host Jaime Roque with memories and emotions as he recounts how on that particular day, his love of music was sparked. This week, we're exploring the rich and resonant history of music from our past and how it continues to resonate with us today. Jaime explores Mesoamerican instruments and discovers the Florentine Codex, a 16th Century manuscript, that is the most detailed record of life in Mexico at that time. Throughout, instrument and music are detailed and pictured. Whether you're a musician, a music enthusiast, or someone who loves learning about history and cultural origins, you'll find this journey fascinating.

The episode features multi-instrumentalist Christopher Garcia, Getty senior research specialist Kim Richter, and Dr. Leon Garcia Garagarza, a specialist in Nahuatl history and religion. Together, they show Jaime indigenous instruments, play music for him, and teach him about the importance of music to Nahuatl people. That importance has been passed down generation after generation, where it can still be found in Mexico and in Los Angeles today.

Special thanks to Christopher Garcia, Dr. Leon Garcia-Garagarza, and Kim Richter.

"¡Y Vero America Va! Televisa Network and "Afuera" performed by Caifanes / (c) 1994 RCA Records

Music by Christopher Garcia and Jaime Roque

In this inaugural episode of ReCurrent, host and producer Jaime Roque shares a heartfelt journey through his family’s history and the role of food in preserving cultural heritage. Jaime takes listeners into his mother Gabriela’s kitchen where she recounts her early days in Guerrero, Mexico, helping her mother sell homemade bread and tamales. The kitchen, filled with memories of four generations, is where Jaime’s childhood unfolded, enriched by family traditions and stories. He reminisces about the comfort of Friday nights, filled with movies and home-cooked meals, which helped him connect with his dual heritage. Jaime also reflects on the deep impact his mother had on his life, especially during her last days, and his ongoing efforts to understand and carry forward the cultural heritage through both physical and spiritual legacies left by past generations.

The episode features thoughts from artist Suzanne Joskow, who highlights how food bridges the gap between past and present generations through her work with the Community Cookbook Archive Los Angeles, and Mallory Frenier, the Special Collections and Archives librarian at Cal State Northridge. Jaime’s participation in the Archives Bazaar and his narrative about celebrating Dia de Muertos in Mexico emphasize food’s power in maintaining a connection with ancestors. Jaime’s visit to El Sazon Guerrerense, a restaurant that reminds him of his mother’s cooking, underscores the emotional significance of culinary traditions. Closing the episode, Jaime and his daughter Selah try making his mother’s tortillas, turning a simple cooking lesson into a meaningful act of remembering and preserving family heritage, ensuring these traditions continue to inspire and connect future generations.

Special Thanks to Suzanne Joskow, Mallory Frenier, and the Roque Family.

“La Madrecita” © 1974 Estudios América

Music by Epidemic Sound and Jaime Roque.

On this episode of Recurrent, Jaime Roque explores the hidden story of América Tropical, a mural painted by Mexican artist David Alfaro Siqueiros in 1932 on Olvera Street, Los Angeles. Commissioned to depict an idyllic tropical scene, Siqueiros instead delivered a politically charged image featuring a crucified indigenous figure overshadowed by an American eagle, sparking immediate controversy and eventual censorship. Jaime interviews local historians and community members, delving into the mural’s impact on cultural identity and its role in inspiring the Chicano mural movement.

As Jaime walks through Boyle Heights, he discusses the effects of gentrification and mural whitewashing with local poet and activist Viva Padilla, emphasizing the ongoing struggle to preserve cultural heritage. Reflecting on how public art serves as both a canvas for resistance and a means of education, Jaime and his guests explore the resilience of cultural memory in urban spaces. This episode not only uncovers the story of a censored artwork but also invites listeners to consider the broader implications of art in shaping and maintaining community identity.