What is Mariachi?
This is the first part of a series of educational articles about mariachi music. Today’s topic explores Mariachis and what they are.
What exactly is a mariachi? What is mariachi music? What makes mariachi music unique and different from all other genres of music? These are all common questions from those discovering mariachi music for the first time. The word “mariachi” originated in the language of the Coca Indians as early as the 1500’s. It meant simply “musician” and was used to mean any person that engaged in musical activities. The best definition today would be “Mexican Folk Musician.” The word also defines a group of such musicians. However, the distinction becomes unclear since a mariachi may mean different things to different people. The instruments, the attire and the music help to truly distinguished mariachis from other musicians.
The instruments of a modern mariachi group will include violins, trumpets, a vihuela, a guitarr�n and one or more guitars. Many groups use other unconventional instruments such as flute or accordion, but these are not accepted as mariachi standard. The harp and the guitarra de golpe, a guitar variant, are sometimes used and are considered proper mariachi instruments. Both of these were part of the colonial and cuarteto mariachi groups of the 1800’s and early part of this century. The guitarr�n and vihuela give the ensemble a very distinct sound. Theses two instruments are not found in any other kind of ensemble.
The guitarr�n is a large bass guitar-like instrument with a large belly in the back. It has six strings tuned within an octave and a half range. This is the heartbeat of the mariachi ensemble. The vihuela is a small guitar variant also with a belly and five treble strings.
The attire of a mariachi group also defines this type of band. Mariachi musicians adapted the “charro” (Mexican Cowboy) suit as the standard costume when performing. Although many variations have been tried, it has remained the required dress. The “traje” consists of botines or ankles boots, a sombrero, a mono or large bow tie, a chaleco or short jacket, snug trousers without back pockets, a wide belt and botonaduras or shiny buttons on the side of the pants. Early groups many times did not wear uniforms and even today they sometimes wear regional costumes instead of the charro outfit.
The most important part of this unique ensemble is the musicians and the music. Mariachi musicians must have certain traits in order to consider themselves as such. Gender is an issue which is widely discussed today. In Mexico, only males are normally allowed to be part of a mariachi group. In the U.S. however, females commonly perform in mariachi bands. Mariachi musicians of today are required to read music, play by ear, sing, transpose and improvise invariably when performing unfamiliar songs, all without thinking twice about it.
Finally, the music and style define what mariachi really is . Mariachi groups have an almost universal repertoire. Nearly every group is expected to know certain material that is native to the genre. These include songs such as Cielito Lindo, Jalisco, El Son de la Negra and El Rey. The definitive song form is the son. The son in indigenous to mariachi music and has several notable characteristics. The rhythmic pattern is an alteration between 3/4 and 6/8 with heavy syncopation. Trumpets and violins make extensive use a grace notes, and the lyrics are usually humorous or nonsensical.
In the next issue of Amin, we will trace the history and evolution of mariachi music. For more information about mariachi music and events in San Antonio and Texas call the International Folk Culture Center’s World Wide Web pages.