The History and Cultural Significance of Mariachi Music As a Language Program student, I had many Spanish courses centered around Mexican culture. I learned about El Da de Los Muertos and the legend of La Llorona, and I explored Mexico's impressive beaches. But there is more to this country's culture and traditions than one might think. Similarly to other Hispanic countries, traditional music plays a fundamental role in the lives of several Mexican people. One style of music that particularly makes Mexico stand out from its many Spanish-speaking counterparts is Mariachi music. Which is a type of Mexican folk music derived from a musical style called Son Jaliscience (Schwab). Each type of music is like a different language with its own history …show more content…
It is a well-known type of music in Mexico and in the rest of the world. As explained by the Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Mariachi has long been considered a uniquely Mexican sound, representing a homegrown tradition that embraces both indigenous and foreign elements". No consensus about the precise geographical and historical circumstances of Mariachi's creation has been established (Esparza). However, it is known that ‘‘The history of mariachi music begins in western Mexico in the nineteenth century, though the exact date and location remain unclear.’’ ("Mariachi Music Guide"). The Spanish people, along with African slaves and their descendants, mingled with American-Indian cultures and, as a result, a new Mexican culture was created ("Que Viva el Mariachi!"). As for this new culture, it included musical traditions that varied from region to region. Furthermore, in the 1850s, the name "Mariachi" was already in use, and it was used to describe the music that emerged from many towns and ranches in western Mexico ("Que Viva el Mariachi!"). Therefore, as a music genre, Mariachi is the result of multiculturalism …show more content…
It has even reached people in its neighboring country, the United States, where many Mexicans live today. During the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, Mariachi music started reaching cities like Mexico City and Guadalajara (Schwab). Over time, the musical style became known as Son and went through changes in terms of instruments and attire. And, by the first half of the 20th century, Mariachi became a prominent type of music in Mexico since it was presented on the radio and is promoted by the government (Schwab). Throughout Mexico, and in other countries as well, Mariachi music started gaining popularity and recognition in the 1930s ("Que Viva el Mariachi!"). As the 1950s came around, the music genre already had a set standard of how it should be played. "Since then, its repertoire [.] has been heard throughout the Americas and around the world." ("Que Viva el Mariachi!"). In the middle of the 20th century, Mariachi music was gradually integrated into American culture (Esparza). But, by the 1970s, it turned into a worldwide success. In addition, Mariachi has been at the top of the Spanish-language music charts for a long time, and it remains a well-known music loved by many people (Esparza). Lastly, according to the website MARIACHI MUSIC.COM, Mariachi music was added to the list of
I went and saw Mariachi Oro de Mi Tierra performed at the Herreras Salon and it was an amazing experience. The whole audience was just so cheerful, and everybody was having a great time. The Mariachi were dressed in black charro suits, and the instruments they had were violins, guitars, trumpets, vihuela, and guitarron. The whole atmosphere was just so lively, and everybody was dress in party attire. The music they played were dance, romantic, and sentimental songs, and the genres were either ranchera, cumbias or boleros. The songs that made people excited were La Bamba (1958), El Rey (1971), Gema (1959), El Mariachi Loco, La Bikina (1964), and Cielito Lindo (1882).
The tradition still takes place today in many areas of Mexico. However, some parts of Mexico do the dance a little differently. The dance is more common in the central regi...
Cumbia originated in the coastal region of Colombia in the early 1800’s. There were three predominant cultures in Colombia at that time: the indigenous peoples, the Spaniards, and the African slaves. The cumbia began with the essential instrumentation of the tambor drums and the gaita flutes, which derive from both indigenous and Congo-based African roots. The genre was entertainment for the slaves, beginning as a courtship dance. It later became an outlet for national resistance and protest as Colombia was contesting for its independence. The music was able to diffuse throughout the nation, spreading from the coast, primarily for the reason that many African populations were scattered in various regions. Barranquilla, a port city in Colombia, was the core of where the music became established and played for the masses, and where instruments such as horns and bass began to be incorporated into cumbia, giving it a more Latin feel. As cumbia evolved and spread to Mexico around the 1930’s, it changed from the influence o...
...can descent. School children also often get a chance to try their hands at creating basic Mexican cuisine. In some area of the southwest, particularly in the city of Los Angeles, celebrations of regional mexican dancing and music are held. However, regardless of the area of celebration, one could almost certainly find mariachi band filled restaurants, outdoor festivities, and social gathering with large amounts of Dos Equis and Corona beer for the adults.
Music comes in many shapes and forms, and has been a magical element of inspiration and encouragement throughout time. The art of music derives from many different things, such as culture and traditions. One such type of music is mariachi music, deriving from Mexican culture and traditions. Mariachi music is often an upbeat rhythm, consisting of a band of up to six to eight violins, two trumpets and a guitar. Unlike modern music and other music bands alike, mariachi bands lack in numbers when it comes to band size. Though they are small, their music brings great significance and life to the places they perform and the people that they touch with their joyous music. In this paper, I will be comparing the culture and style of mariachi music to twentieth century modern music.
Selena Quintanilla became one of the most influential artists up to date and one to have brought Tex-Mex, also known as Tejano music, a part of mainstream media. Tejano music has grown over the years extending thousands of miles along the Rio Grande from Texas to Mexico. With Selena bringing this genre of music to a new level of popularity, she grew a large impact in mingling together Mexican and American culture to a popular form of music heard today.
Mariachi has become the face of Mexican culture, and truly represents the music of Gonzales’ people. It is played in almost every occasion including funerals, weddings, quinceneras, parties, and marches. Gonzales explains this by saying, “Our art, our literature, our music”; He elaborates by naming mariachi under these categories. The author recognizes the significance of this music in his background. In one article, Collins states that “the only thing more Mexican than tequila is the mariachi” (Collins 1998). These words capture how immersed mariachi is in the author’s mores, therefore giving him purpose in mentioning it. Not only does mariachi define Mexican culture, it defines the beauty and soul of tradition.
The origins of the word "mariachi" are not very clear. One theory, that the word came from the French word for marriage has been totally discounted. Many historians believed that the word originated when a Frenchman named Maximillian was the emperor of Mexico. Evidence of the usage of the word dates back much earlier than the arrival of Europeans, so the word had to come from somewhere else. Another theory states that the origin came from the name of the wood used to make the guitars or platforms on which the musicians performed. The most recent theory, however, dates the word back to the early 1500’s to the Coca Indian word for a musician (Ruiz, 2002). Today, the term mariachi refers to the musicians who play traditional Mexican music on streets, at celebrations, and in cafes.
The history and development of salsa “cannot be separated from the history of migration”, meaning that the music developed and changed as it traveled the globe (Román-Velasquez: 211). Due to its global influences and popularity, salsa represents many cultures: “Initially associated with the Spanish Caribbean populations of Cuba and Puerto Rico, salsa was soon claimed as the voice of the New York City barrio and as representative of the experiences of the Latino community in the United States” (Román-Velasquez: 211). The term salsa describes more than just the music, but also “ a 'manner of making music' which is a flexible blend of many genres and which is continually reblended and given slightly different 'flavours' in different locations” (Román-Velasquez: 211). As salsa globalized, so did salsa dancing, adding another performance factor to the genre. Salsa clubs and fans in
Under Spanish rule, Puerto Rican music had been shaped by the prejudices of their oppressors and the divisions between the peasant class and the upper class elites. Many people argued over what was true Puerto Rican music and culture, and the more powerful members of Puerto Rican society controlled the music that represented the island. For this reason, under Spanish colonization, the occupying country recognized the most refined and European-sounding music, the danza. However, the music of the lower classes also served as a means to declare an identity separate from the Spaniards. In this way, Puerto Rican music at this time had the influence of both Europe and its own native culture. According to Glasser, "it is likely that in this way the vals, the mazurka, and other European dances penetrated much of the Puerto Rican countryside and were absorbed, with some modifications, into the jibaro repertoire. (Glasser 26)" In other words, the refined European style that was forced onto them by Spain and other types of music became part of Puerto Rican music, and part of their culture. Puerto Rican music and culture further developed when the United States ...
Music is a big part of Mexican culture, well any culture, music is like the key to the sole. It can open you up and play you like a fiddle. There are many different types of music out there, ranging from hip hop, to country, to jazz, to Latin, pop, indie, there are so many choices, and so many different places music comes from.
Growing up, there was never a day that I did not wake up to the sound of loud salsa music blaring. Or to the loud voices of my mother or grandmother talking. To anyone else this “talking” would surely be mistaken for an argument or fight. Cuba is where salsa music and the conga drum originated, so we tend to be very proud of this. One of the greatest salsa singer/writers was the late Celia Cruz.
The melodies of Argentina have been viewed around the globe as one of the most tantalizing, romantic, extravagant, popular display of emotion. The Tango, originating from Argentina, is widely popular around the world. Some see the Tango to be just a dance; however, the people of Argentina see it as a genre of music as well. The Tan...
The Latin American music scene is an amazingly diverse, engaging and entertaining music culture. Thomas (2011) explains, “…Latin American music has engaged in ongoing dialogue and cultural exchange that has profoundly affected music making in Europe and the United States and, more recently, in Africa and Asia as well”. This paper will be describing different aspects of the music culture from its musical features, to the historical aspect of this interesting music culture. Also, I will discuss a personal experience with Latin American music. After researching the music culture, I attended a concert performed by Boogat, an Emmy award nominated Latin American musician from Quebec who has toured all over North America. Latin American music culture