Ascensión de la Cruz Morales is a Mexican artisan from the small community of
San Francisco Ocotán,
Durango
Durango (), officially named Estado Libre y Soberano de Durango ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Durango; Tepehuán: ''Korian''; Nahuatl: ''Tepēhuahcān''), is one of the 31 states which make up the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico, situated in ...
who specializes in making musical instruments such as violins, guitars, tolochoches(similar to a cello) and harps. His work has earned him the title of “grand master” from the Fomento Cultural Banamex.
Although his family has a tradition of making musical instruments, the artisan learned his craft in
Tuxpan, Nayarit Tuxpan, is both a municipality and a municipal seat in the Mexican state of Nayarit. It is located in the west of the state and has boundaries with the municipalities of Rosamorada in the north, Santiago Ixcuintla
Santiago de Ixcuintla is a mu ...
where he spent part of his life.
[
The instruments are made from local woods called guásina, palo blanco, willow and palo chino woods. The work requires patience as an instrument such as the tolochoche can take up to twelve days. Wood must be planed and various pieces curved around molds. The pieces are glued together and the instrument sanded and varnished.][
The instruments are often played at mitotes, a type of traditional festival of the Tepehuanos.][
]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruz Morales, Ascension de la
Artists from Durango
Living people
Mexican musical instrument makers
Year of birth missing (living people)