Mariachi Music
By: Patrick Adams
Mariachi
Mariachi Music is a genre of music that originated in Mexico. Mariachi music is mostly listened to in Mexico. A few popular Mariachi Musicians are Jose Alfredo Jimenez, Vincente Fenandez, and Luis Miguel.
History of Mariachi
Mariachi Music goes back hundreds of year. Mariachi is music of the Mexican country people, its music that celebrated the joys, the struggles, and the triumphs of the Mexican people. By the end of the nineteenth century, the cocula or the vihuela, two violins, and the guitarron were the instruments of the Mariachi. By the 1950's the Mariachi ensemble was becoming more flexible and orchestral but it was sure to not lose it's traditional setup.
Characteristics of Mariachi
Mariachi music is a type of musical group consisting of at least two violins, two trumpets, one Spanish guitar, one vihuela, one guitarrón and sometimes featuring more than twenty musicians. Mariachi music is one of the few styles of indigenous music that serves both a practical and an entertainment function. The costume used is a charro costume which is made up of a short jacket and high tight black pants but the mariachi bands have also brought in a white variation of the suit.
Connection to Dance
The most common dance technique in mariachi is zapateado which is a kind of footwork from Spain. The pounding of feet into a raised platform often provides the percussive rhythm of mariachi. The dance can also vary by region.
Jarabe Tapatío - Calpulli Mexican Dance Company and Mariachi Flor de Toloache
The Music Today
Mariachi music is still very popular in Mexico and many parts of the world. It has followed the Mexican people wherever they have gone. This means the traditions have come into America and all over the world. Mariachi music is projected to keep growing and getting more popular.
Best Mariachi Music