"Luna de Xelajú" is a very popular Guatemalan waltz composed by Paco Pérez in 1944.
The title translates as "Moon of Xelajú". "Xelajú" (pronounced sheh-lah-HOO) is the former K'iche' Maya name for the Guatemalan city Quetzaltenango, still often popularly called "Xelajú" or "Xela".
The song was written to Miss Eugenia Cohen, a beautiful Jewish lady who stole the writer's heart, but eventually left him because Eugenia's parents disapproved of the relationship. She lives in Quetzaltenango and Guatemala City to this day.
All of the great marimba bands of Guatemala have played it to great success. Perhaps one of the most popular recent versions is as the first selection of the CD Valses inolvidables de Guatemala, with the Guatemalan Millennium Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Dieter Lehnhoff.
Guatemalan singer Gaby Moreno has recorded a very nice version of the song.
Song Lyrics
Although the song has lyrics, it is frequently performed instrumentally.