Mariachi

Mariachi is the name for a typical Mexican music group from the state of Jalisco and its musicians. The mariachi music is still just one of the many facets of Mexican folk music, which is very regionalized. Outside of Mexico, mariachi music is the most famous among the many Mexican music tendencies. Mariachi music was added to UNESCO in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2011.

Instruments

A modern mariachi ensemble usually consists of 7 to 12, sometimes up to 20 elements with guitars, vihuela, Guitarron, violins, trumpets, harp, maracas and sometimes singers. The instrumentalists take over in many songs choral or solo parts.

Music styles

Mariachi is not a separate song type, as is often read, but a formation that plays a variety of traditional styles of dance music. What is commonly referred to as " Mariachi ", consists of a plethora of different regional styles together: the Son Jaliscense, the canción ranchera, the corrido, huapango (or Son huasteco ), Bolero and Son Jarocho, occasionally Paso Doble, Danzon and Vals Mexicano, which in turn were influenced in different ways by Spanish and French styles as well as the music of the indigenous population. Especially between the 1930s and the 1960s, many songs were composed specifically for mariachi ensembles, which are based on regional styles in part. What distinguishes mariachi music, is therefore less the repertoire that the mariachi often share with regional formations, but rather the instrumentation, the typical mariachi sound with trumpets and stringed instruments and the change from solo voice and polyphonic singing, as well as the costume.

Etymology

The origin of the word " mariachi " is controversial. According to popular statement, which was circulated among others by Alfonso Reyes, comes the word " mariachi " from the French word " mariage " wedding, and was coined during the occupation of Mexico by the French in the sixties of the 19th century. Even if we find this derivation in various dictionaries, it is now disproved, since according to recent findings, the term " Mariachi " was common even before the French intervention. It is certain that there was at the beginning of the nineteenth century on the coast of Nayarit, one of the regions of origin of traditional Mariachi, various settlements with the name " Mariachi ", and that the indigenous population of the same region, a ritual dance called " Mariachi " knew. From their language, a variant of Nahuatl, the term originates mariachi, but the meaning of this word was not yet to be clarified.

Clothing

Until the 19th century Mariachi wore no particular costume, but the simple clothing of the peasants. Since the 1940s her distinctive mark is the fine suit of the charro, the wealthy Haciendero from the 19th century: lace cowboy boots, a wide-brimmed, decorated sombrero, tight pants with embroidered borders or silver fittings and also richly decorated, jacket-type jacket. Originally, these suits were black with silver fittings (which is why the Charros are also called " Plateados " ), today wearing mariachi also beige and burgundy suits.

One of the first occasions when Mariachi appeared in a suit of the charro, was a "garden party", which in 1907 held the Mexican dictator Porfirio Diaz in honor of a U.S. delegation. This costume wore at that time already the so-called Orquestas Tipicas, classical orchestra with academically trained musicians, the music from different regions of Mexico mainly played before the concert audience. The suit of the charro prevailed as typical costume of the Mariachi, as this by the emerging record industry and cinema were in the 1930s and 40s, a national symbol. ( Jáuregui, pp. 134-166 )

History

In the middle of the 19th century, when the term first came up, used the designation for Mariachi ensembles in western Mexico, especially in Nayarit, Colima, Jalisco, Michoacán and Guerrero. These ensembles usually consisted of three or four musicians and violin used, harp, guitar / Viuhela and occasionally percussion instruments such as drum or triangle. The repertoire of this ensemble was regionally very different and mainly consisted of traditional dance songs of the region. For secular occasions they played Sones of the region, with religious occasions they played Minuette.

In the wake of the Mexican Revolution and the subsequent urbanization, more and more ensembles from the country came to cities like Guadalajara and Mexico, where they performed as a street musician for money. Some ensembles, such as the Vargas de Tecalitlán also occurred at political occasions and events of high society. They took on a professional musician and trumpet integrated into the ensemble. So today the typical mariachi sound, as we can hear him, for example, in the almost classical prelude of "La negra " or " Guadalajara " was born. The Vargas de Tecalitlán sat down and the suit of the charro by as typical mariachi costume.

This new, consciously arty music and theatrical performance met the needs of the emerging Mexican cinema from the 1930s to 50s. Mariachis accompanied magnificent musical numbers or occurred in street scenes. The Vargas de Tecalitlán appeared in over 200 films, and the most popular actors of the time such as Jorge Negrete and Pedro Infante, took over in these films on vocals. Through the film productions of the so-called Golden Age of Mexican cinema, a new broad repertoire of mariachi music, which began many regional styles, he formed. The films made ​​the Mariachi famous beyond the borders of Mexico beyond. As part of the dissemination through the mass media and the record industry standardized versions of the previously often improvised Sones emerged.

Mariachi embody a vibrant musical tradition that is evolving constantly. Some ensembles today also take new forms such as the cumbia in their repertoire, and while this seems critics as break in style, they perform so that only the tradition of mariachi as a symbol of Mexican culture continues. With singers such as Luis Miguel has been found to Mariachi ajar music found its way into pop music.

In the past, there have always been well known female mariachi, including the violinist Rosa Quirino (1891-1969) or the singer Irma Vila. For several decades, mixed and all-female Mariachigruppen become more frequent. The musicians wear today suits with long skirts, which are based with their embroidery and fittings on the suits of their male counterparts.

Mariachi in the Mexican culture

In Mexico, especially in the central highlands, is the music of mariachi become a permanent part of popular culture. There is no reason not to play the Mariachi: You play on engagements, weddings, baptisms, celebrations of Mother's Day, for St. Joseph's Day and other occasions, they sing in trade fairs and religious processions, and they occur in public places, restaurants, cafes, cantinas or at the inauguration of shopping centers in appearance. On many funerals a group Mariachi himself joins in the funeral procession and plays " Las Golondrinas ". Continues to be popular is the tradition of Serenata: Young men order early in the morning (usually by 2 clock in the morning) a group Mariachi before the house of her lover to bring her a serenade. Families often brought mariachi to pick up relatives from the airport, but due to the associated souffle this is prohibited for several years. In Mexico City, a popular meeting place for Mariachi Plaza Garibaldi is in the north of the center, often engage the client Mariachi there for her performances.

The mariachi are not only the epitome of popular Mexican music, they have also influenced classical composers. The String Quartet " El huapango " (1941 ) of the Mexican composer José Pablo Moncayo is a good example of the mutual influence of so-called folk and high culture: The piece is a reworking of three traditional veracruzanischer Son Huasteca, which belonged as individual pieces of the repertoire of mariachi. Moncayos rhythmically complex piece that was choreographed by Gloria Contreras classical ballet, quickly became popular for second national anthem and is now once again the standard repertoire of mariachi.

Mariachi in the commercial music

In particular, the U.S. music industry has made the mariachi music for the U.S. and world market popular. The first recording is considered by the Bob Moore Orchestra on June 19, 1961 in Nashville quite authentic recorded single Mexico with trumpets, marimbas and Maraccas that reached rank 7 in the U.S. pop charts, but was more successful in Europe (9 weeks rank 1 sold in Germany ) and more than 2 million copies. This is followed by oriented 1962 Herb Alpert & His Tijuana Brass, which regularly could occupy front ranks of international charts with this style.

Characteristic songs

  • Canción del Mariachi
  • Cielito Lindo
  • El Jarabe Tapatio
  • El Mariachi Loco
  • El Rey
  • El Son de la Negra
  • Cucurrucucu Paloma
  • Guadalajara
  • La Bamba
  • La Chiapaneca
  • Las Golondrinas
  • Las Mañanitas
  • México lindo y querido
  • Paloma Negra
  • Viva Mexico, viva América

Known ensembles

  • Mariachi Coculense
  • Mariachi México
  • Los Vargas de Tecalitlán
  • Mariachi Sol de Mexico

Famous soloists

  • Jorge Negrete
  • Pedro Infante
  • Javier Solís
  • Vicente Fernández
Mexican vihuela Mexico (instrumental)
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