The History of Mariachi

The Mexican tradition of wedding bands and native drums dates back hundreds of years, but the Mariachi bands that we have come to know and easily recognize date back to about the 19th century. Modern Mariachi grew in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Inspired by Spanish theatrical orchestras, Mariachi bands adopted the use of specific instruments and elaborate costumes called charro suits. Today, Mariachis are recognized around the world as a symbol of Mexican culture.

Origins

According to Mexconnect.com, the Mariachis are known to have originated in Jalisco, Mexico, but their exact birthplace is up for debate. According to Maricahi.org, a common theory is that Mariachi is specifically from the town of Cocula. There is also much debate over the origin of the name Mariachi. According to Mexconnect.com, the word Mariachi could be a reference to the French word for wedding or marriage, where Mariachi music is commonly heard; a reference to the indigenous trees Mariachi instruments are made from; or even to the festival of the Virgin Mary H., pronounced mah-ree-ah AH-chay.

Music

According to Mariachi.org, the original music of the Mariachi band was the "son." The son was a mixture of African, Mexican and Spanish tradition, and rooted in Mexican storytelling and tales of brave Mexican warriors. The site also explains that the rhythmic pattern of the son is syncopated, alternating between 3/4 and 6/8 time Sones from Jalisco became known as "son jalisciense." The most famous son jalisciense is "La Negra." Sones from the Gulf port of Veracruz are known as "son jarocho" or "son veracruzano," and you may recognize "La Bamba" as the most famous of this genre. Sones from northeastern Mexico are known as "son huasteco" or "son huapango," and the most famous of these is "La Malaguena." Despite these regional classifications, there are some sones that are popular throughout all of Mexico, proving that Mariachi music is rooted in a common ancestor.

Instumentation

Early Mariachi bands used a variety of instruments including violins, guitars and harps, brass horns, and woodwinds, which were brought to Mexico by Spanish explorers and settlers. In time, the accordion found a place in Mariachi music, and Mexicans designed their own guitar-like instruments. As jazz music became popular, the horn became integral, A modern Mariachi band consists of as many as six to eight violins, two trumpets, a guitar, a vihuela, guitarrón and a Mexican folk harp.

Popularity

At first, the Mariachis dressed in traditional labor clothing and sought work at local haciendas. While the Mariachi bands were a common local tradition for weddings and festivals, they did not receive popular cultural notoriety until Gaspar Vargas founded the Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán in 1898. According to ElMariachi.com, Vargas's son, Silvestre Vargas, took over leadership of the group in 1928. When populist President Lázaro Cárdenas was looking for a way to unify the people of Mexico as part of his campaign in 1936, he enlisted the Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán to play the music of his campaign all across Mexico. Mariachi quickly became a symbol of Mexican nationalism.

Today

As Mariachi music gained popularity, Mariachi bands adopted elaborate costumes and emerged onto the popular music scene around the world. Relying on commercial success and the adoption television in the 1950s, the Mariachis became the symbol of Mexican musical culture. In Mexico, Mariachi bands still play at weddings and festivals, and tourists can pay Mariachi bands in town squares to play tunes.

References

• ElMariachi.com
• MexConnect.com
• Mariachi.org