Mariachi Musica

A Brief History

Over time, the roots of the mariachi have been lost. There are many theories about the mariachi’s formation because only a few written sources have been found to clarify exactly how this ensemble evolved. Some of the mariachi’s instrumentation has been traced to Spain and other continents, but essentially the mariachi is a mestizaje, or mixture, of European Indigenous musical cultures in the New World. [Clark, Jonathan. "History of Mariachi." Radio Bilinque 12 March 2007] As Hernan Cortez began to colonize what is now considered Mexico, many of the instruments that were brought over by the ships began to circulate throughout the diverse cultural landscapes of Mexico. Among the instruments were the harp and the vihuela, prototypes of those later used by the mariachi. [Clark, Jonathan D. "A Brief History on the Mariachi Tradition." Sobrino 12 March 2007]

Another theory on the word mariachi comes from the Nahuati and Coca languages, which referred to a social event involving dancers who performed on a wooden platform, which was made from the Pilla or Cirimo tree. ["Mexican Mariachi Music and Instruments" SBG Music 12 March 2007] The true roots of the word mariachi may never be discovered, but today mariachi refers to a fun, lively, ensemble of talented musicians continuing to move forward with their culture’s unique musical traditions.

Today's Mariachi

Even though the mariachi’s roots are not clearly defined, the form of mariachi we know today began in the nineteenth century in the Mexican State of Jalisco in the town of Cocula. ["History of the Mariachi" Mariachi 12 March 2007] The music of mariachis is heavily influenced by local and indigenous roots, the Spanish, and by the influx of slaves from Africa. The mariachi sound includes the style known as the “son”. The rhythmic pattern is a syncopated styling alternating between 3/4 and 6/8 time. A common type of son, the "son jalisciense", was very popular in the Jalisco region. The popular mariachi piece La Negra, is a fine example. In addition to the son style, the Spanish influence added waltzes, polkas, and other styles to the mariachi repertoire.

Mariachi Instruments

Although the instrumentation of mariachis varies from region to region, a typical mariachi ensemble consists of a guitarras, guitarrons, vihualas, [♥ [violin] ♥] s, harps, and trumpets. A guitarra is a flat-backed instrument with strings, and is closely related to the traditional Spanish guitar. The guitarron is a deep voiced instrument with five or more strings was influenced by the Spanish bass guitar. The vihuela is a high-pitched round-backed guitar with twelve strings, which often gives mariachi music its unique rhythm. The violin, harp, and trumpet are the instruments of the mariachi that have not been altered from their original instrument forms.

Mariachi and Special Events

Mariachis are often used to help celebrate the great moments in the lives of the Mexican people. With the serenata, the mariachi participates in the rite of courtship. In a society where the young members of opposite sexes were kept apart, the serenata was a means of communication by which a man could send a message of love to the woman of his heart. Another popular tradition is the singing of Las Mananitas, a song for birthdays and saints days. Mariachis are also commonly hired for baptisms, weddings, patriotic holidays, and funerals. It is not unusual for the deceased to leave a list of favorite songs to be sung beside the grave at burial.

Dance

It is very important to remember that the son and other types of mariachi is not just played and sung. Mariachi music and dance are closely related. A traditional dance associated to the son jalisciense is the zapateado, which is a distinctive type of footwork that originated in Spain. When dancing the zapateado, the performers skillfully drive the heels of their boots into the floor, pounding out swift, syncopated rhythms that complement the rhythm of the musical instruments. The zapateado has been known to reduce the most durable floors to splinters because of the force with which it is danced. ["Mariachi History" El Mariachi 12 March 2007] Each region has variations of the son as well as dance. The huapango or son jarocho, was originally danced on wooden platforms mounted on earthen jugs. To dance the huapango the couples line up in opposing columns. The upper body is held perfectly erect as the feet perform rapid, intricate, shuffling maneuvers. It is not uncommon to find dancers of the huapango, showing off their incredible muscular control, performing with a glass of water on their heads. The sones lyrics often describe life on a farm: in particular, the plants, animals, and people of the region. These lyrics are very suggestive, often portraying the imagery of the courtship of farm animals to describe the relationships of men and women. In the dance the movements made by the performers often represent the animal’s courtship being described in the verses of the sones.

Dress

The outfits worn by mariachis will vary from region to region. Most mariachis wear the same basic traje de charro, consisting of a waist-length jacket and tightly fitted wool pants that open slightly at the ankle to fit over a short riding boot. Both pants and jacket are often ornamented with embroidery, intricately cut leather designs, or silver buttons in a variety of shapes. Prior to the 1930’s, photographs show that early mariachis dressed in calzones de manta, and huaraches, homespun white cotton pants and shirts, the clothes worn by most peasants of the time. The women dancers wear beautifully designed dresses with various patterns sewn into the colorful background. The dresses are designed to float away from the dancer as she spins creating a brilliant display of colors, which can be very appealing to the eye. The patterns and colors on the dress will often represent cultural or family traditions.

Abstract

Although much of the mariachi’s roots are not documented, it continues to thrive in today’s world of ever-evolving music. The Mariachi continues to enrich its listeners with songs about love, betrayal, death, politics, heroes, and animals. This music is incredibly rich in the culture and traditions of many Mexico’s peoples. The Mariachi is a high-energy, fast-paced, beautifully composed, entertaining music that enlightens its listeners.

References

Bibliography

*Clark, Jonathan. “History of Mariachi.” Radio Bilinque 12 March 2007
*Clark, Jonathan D. “A Brief History on the Mariachi Tradition.” Sobrino 12 March 2007
*“History of the Mariachi” Mariachi 12 March 2007
*”Mariachi History” El Mariachi 12 March 2007
*“Mexican Mariachi Music and Instruments” SBG Music 12 March 2007

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.