Mariachi music is a genre of music that originated in Mexico during the 19th century.
Mariachi is said to be an adaptation of the French word for marriage or wedding, although the Oxford English Dictionary attributes its origin to the Mexican Spanish ‘mariache’ or ‘mariachi’ for ‘street singer’.
Mariachi musicians have experimented with strings, brass, wind and percussion instruments during its evolution to what we hear today.
Traditional groups consist of at least three musicians playing a range of instruments that often include guitars, violins and trumpets.
The violins and trumpets usually play the melodic lines while the guitars provide the rhythmical accompaniment.
Mariachi musicians are also known for the traditional style of dress they wear as it often includes silver-studded charro suits with wide-brimmed hats (Charro is a term that refers to a traditional cowboy from Mexico.)
Listen to some Mariachi Music!!
Mariachi music being played in Cocula, Jalisco.
Mexican mariachi music, introduced by tenor and conductor Plácido Domingo.
Mariachi music performed by Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan Cascabel Dos.
Questions
Find a group of three to share and compare your answers. Discuss your groups findings with the class.
Consider the Tempos and Melodies that are used in the mariachi examples
Using NoteFlight: Work in pairs to compose an eight-bar melody with Characteristics of mariachi music:
Perform your mariachi melodies for the class.
Evaluate each performance of your classmates based on the following criteria:
Click the link to Music First, Login, then open Note Flight