Mariachi - Mariachi Bands

Mariachi Bands

The size of a mariachi band varies depending on the availability of musicians. The usual mariachi group today consists of as many as eight violins, two trumpets and one or more guitars. Traditional mariachi guitars include the vihuela, a high-pitched, round-backed guitar which provides rhythm, and a bass guitar called a guitarrón. There is also sometimes a Mexican folk harp which can provide bass as well as ornament the melody. All are Mexican variations of European instruments. There is generally no lead singer as in other kinds of bands with all players singing choruses and taking turns singing the lead. Often the lead singer is assigned to a certain song due to voice qualities. Mariachi vocalization shows influences from a number of styles such as bolero (a romantic style), huapango (using falsetto), son jaliscense (an aggressive style) and more. Voices need to be strong to be heard over the instruments as they are often not amplified. Vocal style emphasizes operatic qualities and instrumental performance demonstrates a level of virtuosity that reflects advanced musical training. Historically, mariachi groups have been made up of men but there is growing acceptance of female mariachis.

As mariachi bands are expected to play requests, they may need to know hundreds of different songs. Most songs are about machismo, love, betrayal, death, politics, revolutionary heroes and even animals and country life from the genre origins as rural son music. One particularly famous song is “La Cucaracha” (The Cockroach). Many of the staples of mariachi bands were made famous by the charro films starring Pedro Infante, José Alfredo Jimenez, Javier Solis and Jorge Negrete during Mexico’s Golden Age of Film that featured the “charro cantor” (singing cowboy).

Most mariachi bands are associated with family and religious celebrations along with serenades. Serenades were popular into the 20th century as young men and women were kept apart and the serenade developed as a way to send love messages. Mariachis remain popular in Mexico to sing for birthdays, weddings, baptisms, patriotic holidays, and even funerals. One of the most common pieces played by the bands is “Las Mañanitas” for birthday and celebrations of patron saints.

In Mexico, mariachi music can be found as well as part of Catholic Mass. The Misa panamericana is a mariachi folk mass sung in Spanish with new arrangements of classic hymns such as "Kyrie Eleison". This innovation began in 1966 by Canadian priest Jean Marc Leclerc and became so popular that it was soon moved from a small church to the Cuernavaca Cathedral.