Information About Traditional Mexican Music
Traditional Mexican music includes several band and song styles, the most famous of which is probably Mariachi. Songs range from moody ballads to fast-paced polkas, and include both instrumental pieces and songs.
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Mariachi
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Mariachi originated in Jalisco as musical theater. A band usually consists of up to eight violins, two trumpets and several varieties of guitars. Mariachi players wear distinctive silver-studded charro (cowboy) costumes with wide hats. They are often found at celebrations and restaurants.
Marimba
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The marimba is a percussive instrument with wooden tubes usually struck with mallets. Marimbas are used in central and southern Mexico. In traditional version, gourds are hung beneath the keys to improve resonance.
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Banda
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Banda is a form of Mexican brass band. They play rancheras, corridos and other traditional music forms, as well as pop or rock. The first banda players originated in Sinaloa in the late 19th century when Mexican music met German polka.
Genres
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Genres of traditional Mexican music include rancheras, (songs about love, patriotism and nature), corridos (ballads), slow-paced boleros for dancing, danzón (an instrumental, formal dance music) and polkas.
Fun Fact
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A true mariachi band includes at least three violins, two trumpets and one each of Spanish guitar, vihuela guitar and guitarrón (bass). Some bands add a folk harp. Without the vihuela and guitarrón, it is not a mariachi band.
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