Mariachi Enrichment. Welcome to Mariachi class!

Transcription

1 Mariachi Enrichment Welcome to Mariachi class! In this class, we will be learning about the origins, and techniques that make up mariachi music using classical Western instruments and Mexican instruments. We will also be learning about how composers and songwriters come up with songs for this genre, how to sing as a group, and how to play together in an ensemble. Definitions We re going to start with a brief definition of the word Mariachi. According to Jonathan Clark, there are three definitions: (1) A specific type of Mexican musical group or ensemble. (2) An individual musician in a mariachi group (synonym: mariachero/charro).

2 (3) An adjective denoting a genre or style related to the mariachi, e.g., mariachi music, mariachi trumpet. Origins In order to understand all three definitions above, we need to understand the complexity of the history of Mexico. Under Hernán Cortés, the Spaniards were in the middle of their search for the perfect route to China. They stumbled upon El Puerto de Vera Cruz, Mexico, what is now known as Veracruz. Professional musicians accompanied Hernán Cortés when he arrived in what is now Mexico in This was almost 500 years ago! Among the instruments that were aboard their ships were the harp and guitar. There were also instruments that the Moors had incorporated into the Spanish culture that would later influence the construction of the Vihuela and Guitarrón. Over the years, as more Europeans made their way to what was later called New Spain, Trumpets and Violins also made their way into the land. The Mexica, who had their own musical traditions, mastered the Western practices and began creating new music with these instruments. With the influx of large numbers of African slaves, African music was also brought to Mexico during the early colonial period. What ended up happening is musical history. These cultures came together to form something greater than themselves and transcended the legacy of the Conquest: Mariachi.

3 Instrumentation As you can see, Mariachi music has all sorts of influences. In the earliest known written accounts, there were Violins, Harps and Guitars. This setup was similar to the list of instruments used in Spain for intimate settings. As was with festivities, most of the musicians had to travel to get to each performance. There were no automobiles! Carrying around a harp for hours, maybe days, on a horse or mule, was pretty tiring! This is how the Guitarrón came to be. It was portable, much smaller than the harp, and still helped keep the bass lines. Variations of guitars were created, due to dancers beginning to use shoes with taps on them. Dancers tried to sound louder than one another to be heard by the crowd. This lead to the invention of the Vihuela and Guitarra de Golpe. They helped with the percussive nature of the music and didn t drown out so easily by the footwork of the dancers. By the time the first recordings of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan were done, we also have the inclusion of trumpets playing off of melody lines along with the violins. Here is the modern day instrumentation: 3 4 Violins 2 Trumpets 1 Guitarron 1 Guitar

4 1 Vihuela For bigger shows, and a few more famous groups still use Harp and Guitarra de Golpe in their lineup. Here is what the Mariachi harp looks like: This is the Guitarra de Golpe:

5 Where Can You Hear It? Mariachi music is native to a region of Western Mexico that includes what are today the states of Jalisco, Nayarit, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Michoacan, and Colima. It does extend as far north as Sinaloa and Durango and as far south as Guerrero. Looking at this list, we can also see where some of the regions may have influenced the final instrumentation of what we know now to be a part of the Mariachi group. Unfortunately, because there are so many places that have this music, it is impossible to determine where Mariachi originates. Some say it s from Jalisco, others say it s from Colima, and still others say it comes from Michoacan. What we do know, is that this music is forever associated and recognized as the official music of Mexico and is enjoyed all over the world.

6 Why are YOU here? Give us the top three reasons you chose this enrichment class and list them below. Make sure to be specific and don t be shy! We all start somewhere. 1) 2) 3)