The French named mariachi, but the Coca Indians gave the original name in 1500’s referring to any musician. Mariachi sound is impacted by African influence known as SON. Rhythmic pattern altering between 3/4 and 6/8. Instruments of MariachiIn a complete Mariachi group today there are as many as 6 to 8 violins, 2 trumpets, and a guitar, which are all standard European instruments. Then there is a high-itched, round-backed guitar called the vihuela, which when strummed in the traditional manner gives the mariachi its typical rhythmic vitality; a deep voiced guitar called the guitarr’o which serves as the bass of the ensemble; and a Mexican folk harp, which usually doubles the base line, but also ornaments the melody. Beginning of MariachiMariachi began in the nineteenth century in the Mexican State of Jalisco, in a town known as Cocula. The Mariachi was the distinctive version of the Spanish theatrical orchestra of violins, harp and guitars that developed in and around Jalisco. The principal music played by these early Mariachis was the SON, the popular music of the day. A mixture of folk traditions from Spain, Mexico, and Africa, the son was found in many regions of the country. The son from Jalisco is called the son jaliscience. Sones from other regions include the son jarocho or veracruzano, from the region around the Gulf port of Veracruz. The most famous example of the son jarocho is La Bamba. A typical son huasteco, also known as the huapango, is the La Malague~n a. Mariachi and DanceThe son-and other types of Mariachi music are not just music to be played and sung. From the very start it as music to be danced to. The lyrics of the sones frequently describe country life: in particular, the plants, animals and the people of the region. These lyrics are highly suggestive, often using imagery of the courtship of farm animals to describe the relations of men and women. In the dance the movements of the performers represent...
