VAYCHILETIK

Bats'i son ta Sots'leb (the traditional music of Zinancantán), consists of two instrument ensembles, the first made up of a reed flute together with drums made of cedarwood and deer skin, and the second being the strings ensemble: violin, harp and guitar, made by the Tsotsil people of the region. Both ensembles play bats'i son, which literally means true music or traditional music. In the strings ensemble, this music is accompanied by songs and dances which will vary depending on the ceremony that is celebrated and the mayordomo, or guardian of the saint, in charge of taking care of and protecting the saint.

The drum and flute ensemble also plays bats'i son. Both ensembles can play at the same time and can play for several days and nights during the celebration of each festival. There are other melodies played during the festivals of the town, one of them being son j-ik'al - music for Carnival, where those in charge of organizing the festival, known as paxiones, dance for 4 days and nights in different sacred places in the town of Zinacantán.

Bats'i son (traditional music), strings ensemble.
Played by José Pérez López, Mariano Pérez Condios and Martín de la Cruz.

Son j-ik'al (carnival music), flute and drum.
Played by José Pérez López and Juan Javier Pérez.