Mariachi Information
Mariachi is arguably the most widely recognized style of Mexican music. Frequently heard at weddings, birthdays and other rites of passage, mariachi has been an indelible part of Mexican culture for hundreds of years. Its influence can be heard in everything from Mexican orchestral music to alternative rock and pop. It's often said that Mariachi evokes the soul of Mexico and its people, their passions, sorrows and triumphs.
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Origins and Terminology
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Though mariachi is widespread throughout Mexico and the American Southwest, the western state of Jalisco in Mexico is considered the birthplace of the music. Mariachi originally developed out of the Spanish musical theater bands popular during the colonial era. Blending Spanish, native folkloric and even African instruments and musical traditions, mariachi blossomed into a style unto itself. Mariachi groups were typically comprised of wandering musicians with no formal music education who traveled the country on foot or horseback. The exact origins of the word "mariachi" are unknown, but one theory suggests that it comes from the native word to describe the particular wood used in making dance platforms in Mexican villages.
Instrumentation and Dress
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Though instrumentation has changed over the years according to popular taste, a standard Mariachi band today is comprised of the following instruments: at least three violins, two trumpets, guitar, vihuela (a high-pitched guitar with a round back), guitarrón (a low-pitched guitar that fills out the bass register) and a Mexican harp. Mariachi bands typically wear highly ornate uniforms that feature tight pants and short jackets covered in conchos (large silver sequins) and tassels. They almost always sport a Mexican sombrero, bow ties and leather boots, all of which follow the tradition of the charro (Mexican horseman).
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Song Forms
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Mariachi songs come in dozens of forms that differ in terms of tempo, feel, lyrics and even origin. Boleros, with their 4/4 time signature, romantic lyrics and relatively complex chord structures, are popular among mariachi bands. The ranchera lento is a slower type of song played by mariachi bands and is considerably more emotional and expressive. Paso dobles originated in Spain and feature rapid, more aggressive tempos that seem to evoke a traditional Spanish bullfight. There are dozens of other mariachi song forms that have developed out of different regional traditions.
Popularization and Key Figures
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The popularity of mariachi really exploded after the Mexican Revolution of 1910, though the music had been adored for centuries prior to the war. Mexicans at this time exhibited a surge of nationalism, and mariachi became the country's most patriotic musical expression. As more Mexican musicians began to study and read music, mariachi was no longer the amateurish regional folk music it had once been. Legendary figures like Rubén Fuentes and Pedro Infante lead a movement of talented mariachi singers who defined the genre and helped mariachi earn its place among the most important musical traditions in the Americas.
Legacy
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Mariachi has grown and expanded over the past hundred years and continues to be a vital force in Mexican music. A traditionally all-male genre, many mariachi bands today include women as well. The music is taught in schools around the country and is prominent in the American southwest. Important Mexican rock bands such as Café Tacuba often incorporate the iconic sound of mariachi in their music.
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