mariachi

Mariachi, in relation to the music of Mexico, may also be defined in relation to the conditions associated with its historical development. A mariachi ensemble is an integration of stringed instruments highly influenced by the cultural impacts of the colonial era. Throughout the history of mariachi, musicians have experimented with brass, wind, and percussion instruments. In addition, sociohistorical factors have influenced the repertoire in terms of the performance of diverse regional song forms as well as the evolution of the performance attire. Mariachi is important to the study of Mexican music because, as an ensemble created during the colonial period, it found its essence during the postcolonial era, blossomed during the nationalist era, and made a global impact during contemporary times. Throughout this development, particularly since the nationalist era, mariachi music has become emblematic of Mexican music by appropriating various Mexican regional song forms, experimenting in popular radio programs, appearing in the first Mexican films, and performing during presidential campaigns (Loza 1993, Turino 2003, Sheehy 2005, de la Mora 2006, Jaúregui 2007).

The mariachi ensemble generally consists of violins, trumpets, an acoustic guitar, a vihuela (a high-pitched, five-string guitar), a guitarrón (a large acoustic bass) and, on occasion, a harp. They dress in silver studded charro outfits with wide-brimmed hats. The original Mariachi were Mexican street musicians or buskers.^[1] Many mariachis are professional entertainers doing paid gigs in the mainstream entertainment industry. Professionals are normally skilled at more than one instrument, and they also sing. They sometimes accompany ranchera singers such as Vicente Fernandez or even pop star Luis Miguel. Although ranchera singers dress in a traje de charro (Charro suit), they are not mariachis.

Although mariachis are hired to play at events such as weddings and other formal occasions, such as a quinceañera (a girl's fifteenth birthday celebration), they are very often used to serenade women because many of the songs in a typical repertoire have as a theme the desire to touch the heart of the opposite sex. Trios of mariachis can be found for hire in different places at night (the best known venues are Plaza de los Mariachis in Guadalajara and Plaza Garibaldi in Mexico City) for the purposes of serenading. Mother's days are also another popular occasion for mariachis. Hiring prices can vary immensely and are normally not cheap.

Tourists frequently confuse mariachis with all types of buskers seen in Mexico, such as jarochos. Mariachi refers to musicians who dress and play in a style typical of the Mexican state of Jalisco, although the style and music played has spread far beyond the limits of Jalisco and jalisciense music itself. Generally a guitarrón and a vihuela must be included for a group to be considered a mariachi.

Instrumentation

Mariachi singing

Current mariachi instrumentation includes a guitarrón, a vihuela, a guitar, violins, and trumpets. Some groups might use a guitarra de golpe, a mariachi harp or even a flute. From the 70's some singers have occasionally added other instruments as accordion, organ, keyboard, harmonica, saxophone and even drums, although they were considered additions, never part of the mariachi instrumentation itself. During the last years ranchera singers as Alejandro Fernandez, Pablo Montero and Pepe AguilarandEL OMAR have made fusions of mariachi with orchestra and drums/percussions giving birth to a mariachi/pop ballads crossover style.

In the complete Mariachi group today there are as many as six to eight violins, two trumpets, and a guitar – all standard European instruments. Then there is a high-pitched, round-backed guitar called the vihuela, which when strummed in the traditional manner gives the Mariachi its typical rhythmic vitality; a deep-voiced guitar called the guitarrón which serves as the bass of the ensemble; and a Mexican folk harp, which usually doubles the base line, but also ornaments the melody. While these three instruments have European origins, in their present form they are strictly Mexican. Most people confuse the name "Mariachi" with "Mariachi Band". "Mariachi Band" is like saying, Big Band Band. The Los Gauchos even had some forms of instruments that were handmade on the ranches they worked.

Musical forms

Mariachis

Mariachi in Guadalajara, Jalisco

• Metre in 2/4 [chun-ta]

• Canción ranchera (a dos tiempos)
• Corrido (a dos tiempos)
• "Polka"
• Pasodoble
• Marcha

• Metre in 3/4 [chun-ta-ta]

• Canción ranchera (tres tiempos)
• Corrido (tres tiempos)
• Valses mexicanos
• Son
• Huapango

• Metre in 4/4

• Bolero ranchero
• Danzón
• Ranchera Lenta
• Cumbia

• Metre in 6/8

• Son
• Jarabe
• Huapango

• Metre mixed

Examples:

• "Muerte de un gallero" (corrido-son)
• "El Charro Mexicano" (ranchera-son)

• Oberturas de música clásica

Mariachi bands and artists

José Alfredo Jiménez, Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, Jorge Negrete, Pedro Infante, Vicente Fernandez, Antonio Aguilar, Pepe Aguilar, Estela Nuñez, Pedro Fernández, Alejandro Fernández, Paquita La Del Barrio, Ana Gabriel, Banda Machos, Carlos y Jose, Chayito Valdez, Chelo, Conjunto Primavera, Miguel Aceves Mejía, Tito Guízar, Rubén Fuentes Gassón, Luis Aguilar, Hito Huerta, Mariachi Internacional, Juan Torres y Su Organ, Los Alegres De Teran, Los Temerarios, Mariachi Sol de México, Luis Miguel, Mariachi El Bronx, Mariachi Garibaldi, Mariachi México Jalisco, Mariachi Veracruz, Mercedes Castro, Patrulia 81, Rafael Rabago, Ramon Ayala, Shaila Durcal, Mariachi Cobre, and many others

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mariachi

• Mariachi con Ñ
• Desde la Cuna del Mariachi
• Tucson's Ronstadt Family
• "Mariachi Women"
• "Females in Mariachi"