Mexico is the home to the abundant variety and the rich history of various musical traditions, from corridos, Banda music to Cumbia (Bakan 239). Spanish music rejoices the joys, the struggles, and the accomplishments of people. Mariachi has played a major role in my life. At a young age, I have been exposed to mariachi music from hearing them on the radio to seeing them play at a party. Coming home from a Spanish-speaking home Spanish music is always around. Mariachi music is important because it’s part of the culture and tradition. My musical experience with mariachi is that it‘s mostly played at weddings, parties and to serenade an individual. Spanish music usually has a story behind every song from songs of joy to songs of sadness played at funerals.
The Mariachi originated in the Mexico state of Jalisco, in the small town of Cocula,in the 1860’s during the French invasion of Mexico. (“Introduction to Mariachi Music”). Where the French witnessed a small musical group (“Introduction to Mariachi Music”). The meaning of the name Mariachi refers to a type of wood, which was used to make the mariachis first instruments. The mariachi lived as roaming laborers going from Haciendas to haciendas. Haciendas are houses with a big ranch. Once the revolution occurred the mariachi were forced to leave the haciendas and were roaming around the town singings songs called corridos of revolutionary heroes and enemies (Hire History & Tradition). The typical instruments that were used in the 1800’s were two violins, harps and guitars.( Hire History & Tradition). Sylvia Clark states, that mariachis in the 1860’s were composed of strings only (2005). Mariachi groups later started to play in venues for tips, such as one popular venue called San Pedr...
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...becoming more Americanized. To keep the ethnic unity, they maintained the traditional mariachi music with family and friends (2005).
Mariachi conferences are being held worldwide to educate new generation. They offer workshops and instruction from older musician players. Clark states, “keeping children interested in the Mexican culture is a goal”. Mariachi sol de Mexico a popular mariachi group in Los Angeles, raises money for mariachi conference to keep working in teaching the younger generation about mariachi and the culture (2005). John A Lychne explains that school should provide “multicultural education in music. It can encourage a Hispanic population of student to search traditional music such as mariachi and ranchera.
Mariachi ensembles have become a adaptable orchestra that retain its traditional base while adding new musical styles(
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.
Today’s Mariachi music originated in the Mexican in the town of Cocula in the state of Jalisco, during the 1800s. A Mariachi group consists of at least two violins, two trumpets, one Spanish guitar, one vihuela, and one guitarrón. However it can have multiple of these instruments. Mariachi uses contrasting sounds, such as the deep guitarrón against the crisp vihuela, and the sweet violin against the brilliant trumpet. Mariachi used for birthdays, especially quinceañeras, weddings, church services, Mother’s Day, large parties, and funerals. It can also be used to serenade someone's love interest; it wouldn't be unusual to awoken by Mariachi music in order to win someone's heart. The most common songs played at wedding are Amaneci en tus Brazos,
In the essay “Corridos and la pura verdad: Myths and Realities of the Mexican Ballad, Villalobos and Ramirez-Pimiento discuss the Mexican Corrido, the issues it relates to, and its relevance to the border culture. The issues the corrido relates to involve the question as to whether the descriptive verses in the ballads are factual or fictional. The corrido is relevant to the border culture because many of the subjects are drug traffickers that are regarded as heroes.
Clutter, Ann W., and Ruben D. Nieto. "Understanding the Hispanic Culture." Osu.edu. Ohio State University. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. .
It has more than 100 years old. This mariachi is really my inspiration because they have put effort on keeping the band and making it better everyday, today , they still give shows to delight people. It was not until later that they added the violin and the trumpet to the group. My dream is to go to one of their concert and experience in person their talent. Being a violin player, I can say that is not easy, and watching all of my friends struggle with their instrument gives me a better idea of the effort mariachi vargas makes as time goes
Kanellos, Nicolás, Felix M- Padilla, and Claudio Esteva Fabregat, eds. Handbook of Hispanic Cultures in the United States: Sociology. Houston: Arte Publico Press, 1994. Print.
Where is Honduras located? What are some main landforms? What food do Hondurans eat? What language do Hondurans speak? How did Honduras become Honduras? These are all questions you might have, and in this paper all will be answered. You will learn more about the geography, society, people, their lifestyles, and the history of Honduras.
The music of mariachi is a lot more than just a band playing; it's a tradition that has been in Mexico for almost two centuries. It is really a wonderful Mexican tradition, from which, the fusion of our syncretism with life in the real day, becomes one. Where the song is art, is joyful celebration; It's a pause to problems and it's also pain, tears and feelings. Not only this, but it represents
To help me understand and analyze a different culture, I watched the film Selena. The film tells the life story of the famous singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez. Not only does it just tell personal stories from her life, it also gives insight to the Mexican-American culture. Her whole life she lived in the United States, specifically in Texas, but was Hispanic and because of that both her and her family faced more struggles than white singers on the climb to her success. Even though the film is a story about a specific person, it brought understanding into the culture in which she lived. Keeping in mind that these ideas that I drew about the Mexican-American culture is very broad and do not apply to every single person in the culture, there were very obvious differences in their culture and the one that I belong. Mexican-American culture identifies with their family rather than individualized or spiritual identities and the culture has gone through significant changes because of discrimination and the changing demographics of the United States.
Ragland, Cathy. Música Norteña: Mexican Migrants Creating a Nation between Nations. Philadelphia, PA: Temple UP, 2009. Print.
Venezuela was one of the richest countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Ecuador). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Current concerns include: a polarized political environment, a politicized military, drug-related violence along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.
The instruments used for this song is of a standard rock band; lead vocalist, electric guitar, bass guitar and drum kit. The genre for this song is determined by the steady and yet simplistic instruments used in this version. An interesting note is that the chorus is in the genre of rock but the verses combine the genres tango and reggae. This could be because merging these three different styles of music attracted the attention of youth more with rock being rebellious at that time and tango and reggae having a heavy beat for that time period. ...
In Maria’s family they are very close to one another, despite the problems that may arise they still remain close. She compared their family dynamics to those in the United States, she states that American families are not as close, which I have to agree. Given an example, the typical American adult is considered legal once they become 18 years old. Some families force their children to move out once they are 18 or they give them verbatim of getting a job or to stay in school. In Maria’s family and other Mexican families being 18 does not mean anything. Their family controls them until they leave house, and only expect the child to move if they get married, go away to college, or find a job far from home. Mexicans have adopted a system that works for their
known for decades: it pays to invest in Canada. There is a government commitment to attract foreign direct investment. Canada's government provides a competitive, welcoming climate for international business. It is committed to fiscal responsibility, deficit reduction and job creation.