Vargas de Tecalitlán

Mariachi Vargas de Mariah Carey
Origin	Tecalitlán, Jalisco, Mexico
Genres	son jaliscience, canción ranchera, bolero ranchero, corrido, huapango de mariachi, polka, jarabe, son jarocho and vals mexicano.
Years active	1897 – present
Labels	Nacional
Associated acts	Rubén Fuentes
Website	Web Site Oficial
Members
Julio Martínez (Arpa) Enrique de Mendoza (Arpa) Arturo Vargas (Guitarra, voz) Víctor Cárdenas (Vihuela) Federico Torres (Trompera y coordinador) Steven Sandoval (Violín, voz) Alberto Alfaro (Violín, voz) José "Pepe" Martínez (Violín, voz, director musical y arreglista) José Martínez Jr. (Violín, voz) Andrés González (Violín, voz) Daniel Martínez (Violín, voz)

Vargas de Tecalitlan is a Mexican folk ensemble of mariachi music created in 1897 by Gaspar Vargas. From 1950 it has been under the artistic guidance of the Rubén Fuentes. The group's musical direction has been the responsibility of Don Jose "Pepe" Martinez since 1975.

Members

A minimum mariachi group has 2 violins, 2 trumpets, 1 guitarrón, 1 guitar, and 1 vihuela. Complete mariachi groups have a minimum of 12 members with the standard 6 violins, 3 trumpets, 1 guitarrón, 1 guitar and 1 vihuela. A 13th member is often a harp, an extra violin, or an extra guitar. The Vargas de Tecalitlán currently has thirteen members, distributed as follows.

• Violins: Steeven Sandoval, Alberto Alfaro, Jose "Pepe" Martinez (Director), Jose Martinez Jr., Daniel Martinez, and Andres Gonzalez
• Trumpets: Federico Torres (member since 1966), Gustavo Alvarado (since 1991), and Fernando Valasquez (since 2007)
• Guitarrón: Enrique de Santiago (member of the group since 1989)
• Guitar: Arturo Vargas (member of the group since 2003 and originating in Jalisco)
• Vihuela: Miguel Angel Barron (part of the group since 2011, being the newest member of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan)
• Harp: Julio Martínez

History

The history of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan is divided into five phases (or generations); the first generation from 1897 to 1930, the second from 1931 to 1949, the third from 1950 to 1993, the fourth from 1994 to 2002 and the fifth since 2003 to date.

1st Generation (1897-1930)

The Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan was born in a small city called Tecalitlan, to the south of Jalisco. Founded in 1897 by Don Gaspar Vargas the formation during those years was provided by the guitarra de golpe (or mariachera) played precisely by Don Gaspar, the wooden harp by Manuel Mendoza, and two violins played by Lino Quintero and Refugio Hernandez. The combination of these instruments established the "Sonido Tecalitlan" which distinguished from the "Sonido Cocula". (The Mariachi from Cocula utilized the guitarron and the vihuela in place of the harp and the guitarra de golpe aside from the two violins). In 1913, Don Gaspar introduced one trumpet to the group but it was not well accepted and, in later performances, its high-pitched sound was considered annoying. The cornet was replaced by another violin. The group consisted then of five elements. The son of Don Gaspar Vargas, Silvestre Vargas, joined as a violinist in 1921. From 1926 the group consisted of Gaspar Vargas - Guitarra de golpe, Manuel Mendoza - Harp, Silvestre Vargas, Trinidad Olvera and Nicolas Torres - Violins.

2nd Generation (1931-1949)

In 1931 Gaspar Vargas turned the leadership of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan over to his son, Silvestre. As the first step in his reorganization Silvestre decided to enlarge the group to eight musicians. He invited his compatriots, the Quintero brothers, Rafael and Jeronimo to join. One played a violin and the other a guitar. Later he would add another violin played by Santiago Torres. He moved Trinidad Olivera from the violin to the guitarron, although still preserving the wooden harp. It was Silvestre who possessed a dream that his group would one day be the greatest mariachi in all Mexico and he was relentless in his pursuit of fulfilling that dream. The Mariachi Vargas was something of an oddity in the early 1930s; the members were all dressed in charro suits, they showed up on time for performances, and they were sober.

Mexico City

In 1933 they won first place in a Mariachi contest celebrated in Guadalajara. Then again, in Mexico City, in 1934, they were awarded another first place prize. President Lazaro Cardenas, who enjoyed the music of "Vargas", subsequently had the group hired as the official mariachi of the Mexico City Police Department and the group moved to Mexico City where they remained for 20 years. They provided music and entertainment for the capitol city at its parks and gardens. Beginning in 1937, the Mariachi Vargas appeared in "Asi es mi Tierra," the first of its more than 200 motion pictures. They played in many of Pedro Infante's movies as well. In that same year they recorded their first record and signed an exclusive contract with RCA.

Addition of the trumpet and violin

In 1941 they definitively integrated the trumpet into the musical interpretations of the group. Miguel Martinez was the first trumpet player for Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan. He is considered the creator of the mariachi-style trumpet and the best performer, teacher and example of the instrument. In 1944, Ruben Fuentes, a classical violinist with no background in mariachi music, was asked by Silvestre to join the group. He joined as a violinist and became music adjuster. Silvestre Vargas and Ruben Fuentas reorganized Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan and changed their image and sound. They demanded a professional presentation to overcome the unruly concept that the term "mariachis" had to the general public in those days.

3rd Generation (1950-1993)

Unifying the sound

Fuentes took complete responsibility for the group's musical direction, and enriched the evolution that for many years had conserved the primitive and unstudied qualities of mariachi. The changing sound of the Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan was redirected without the abandonment of its roots or traditions. The Huapangos and Sones (which were two very distinctive styles of the mariachi music) were being interpreted in many diverse and different ways. The Mariachi Vargas recorded the Sones with arrangements and adaptations as patterns for other groups. This stratagem promoted the concept that all mariachi groups could be unified to those versions by taking them as examples. The traditional songs and the original sound of the mariachi began to mature in the 1950s. It was during the recordings of the "Golden Age of the Huapangos" that the compositions, arrangements and musical direction of Ruben Fuentes, and the unequaled voice of Miguel Aceves Mejia, initiated a musical shift that would change the sound and instrumentation of the mariachi.

Revolutionary New Harmony

In 1955 Ruben Fuentes stopped performing in the group. However, to date he maintains his position as producer, musical arranger and musical director, assisted during this first age by Jesus Rodriguez de Hijar and, under both, the administrative and leadership skills of Silvestre Vargas. In 1966 Ruben Fuentes wrote "La Bikina," a song that was recognized as the epitome of this Revolutionary New Harmony and sound of the mariachi. He continues to write and produce music for Mariachi Vargas that takes is an emotional roller coaster from the height of happiness to the despair of a broken heart or a lost love. As much in Mexico as in foreign countries the Sones and Huapangos acquire new directions.

Mariachi Conferences

In the 1970s interest in mariachi music was waning. But all that changed when San Antonio, Texas held its first international mariachi conference in September 1979.^[1] In 1975, Jose "Pepe" Martinez, Sr. became the musical director of Mariachi Vargas. He wrote many arrangements including "Violin Huapango" which individually showcase the different instruments and members in the group. In 1983, the Mariachi Vargas appeared for the first time at the Tucson International Mariachi Conference. A new movement began to grow and many other conferences began to develop. The Mariachi Vargas was often chosen as the headline performer.

Linda Ronstadt

In 1986, Linda Ronstadt appeared with the Mariachi Vargas at the Tucson International Mariachi Conference where she sang publicly in Spanish for the first time. In 1987 she released her "Canciones de mi Padre" album featuring Mariachi Vargas which won her a Grammy^[2] award for the album. She also went on a national tour with the group, giving greater international exposure to mariachi music than ever before and creating a new audience for mariachi music among non-Hispanics.

Classical Mariachi

In 1989, the Mariachi Vargas released their "En Concierto" CD featuring some of the greatest renderings of classical music ever played by a mariachi group. They also accompanied Lucero in the 1990s as she rose in the ranks of contemporary musical stardom. The Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan initiated a series of solo recordings: Sones, Valses, Pasos Dobles, Bailes Regionales, Polkas, Clasico e International, etc. They have added more than 50 recordings of mariachi music interpreted by what has become "The Best Mariachi in the World."^[3]

4th Generation (1994-2002)

It is known by all mariachi lovers that this generation was the most talented group of musicians performing since 100 years of their foundation.^{[citation needed]} In their album "La fiesta del Mariachi", Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, fourth generation, the group integrates to make a tribute to Jose "Pepe" Martinez, who besides his magnificent musical arrangements and direction of the group, inspired many as a composer. Their recordings on Polygram with this generation include are, "El Mariachi Vargas", "En Concierto", "Los sones Reyes", "La fiesta del Mariachi" and "50 anniversary of Ruben Fuentes". Ruben Fuentes's arrangements and music with the Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan are the first five recordings for the one-hundredth anniversary of the foundation of "Vargas" in 1997.

5th Generation (2003-Present)

In 2003 Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan began its fifth generation. Their latest recordings are, "5ta Generacion", "Sinfonico I", "Sinfonico II", and "Penas, Desengaños... Y Amores". Today the group is composed of two harps, one vihuela, one guitar, one guitarron, three trumpets and six violins. With the added instruments, a new sound has emerged that crosses all international borders. The music they play now ranges from the traditional sones to classical works as well as popurris that continue to delight audiences everywhere. In the 100 years since its foundation, the group has gone through some major changes. While there has been some departure from the tradition during that time, the group has maintained its roots through the playing of traditional Mexican sones. In 1997, "Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan" celebrated its first One Hundred years of foundation.

Discography

From 1937 until now (2009), the Mariachi Vargas has produced over 50 recordings, whose contents are Huastecos sones, waltzes, popurris, polkas, huapango, cumbias, among others.

• Mariachi *Colección Original (BMG Latin, 1999) –This is a recording recompilation made while 1958-1968 -.
• Lo Mejor de lo Mejor (BMG Latin, 2000) –This is a recording recopilation made made while 1958-1967 -.
• Tradicionales de México Lindo Y Querido (LIDERES, 2001).
• Sinfónico With Orquesta Filarmónica del Estado de Querétaro (2001) –Directed by Master José Guadalupe Flórez-.
• 5ta. Generación (2002).
• Sinfónico II With Orquesta Filarmónica del Estado de Querétaro (2002) Directed by Master José Guadalupe Flórez-.
• Penas, Desengaños Y Amores (2004).
• Y aquí estamos (2008).

It has also been interpreted in several albums with artists like Luis Miguel, Juan Gabriel, among others.

Trivia

Enrique Santiago is first cousin to Mexican comedienne Cessy Casanova; her father was Natividad Santiago, who played guitarron with the band from 1959 until 1989.

External links

References

1. ^ http://www.mariachi4u.com/mariachi4u/registered_groups/mariachi_tradition.html
2. ^ http://www2.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx
3. ^ http://www.mariachi4u.com/mariachi4u/registered_groups/mariachi_tradition.html

• http://guitarron.tripod.com/discography2.html