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Mariachi outfit and its history

The Mariachi outfit and its history

Picture
Picture
 
HISTORY OF MARIACHI MUSIC
 
Mexicans love music. Everything from intimate moments to public fiestas has its own soundtrack. Before the arrival of the Spaniards in the New World, music, singing, and dancing were a prominent part of social and religious life. Indigenous rulers and priests sponsored community rituals in public plazas accompanied by well-prepared musicians. 
Rural Mexican music undoubtedly grew out of these Mesoamerican and European roots, with African traditions mixed in. Like the mestizo people of the country, it is uniquely Mexican.
Full of rhythm, passion, and stories, animistic and primal, it was the source from which sprang modern mariachi music.
 
We owe almost everything we know about the culture of pre conquest and early colonial times in Mexico for a few men.  The primary historian of the period were Bernardino de Sahagun, a Franciscan missionary who recorder everything he learned from the Nahua (Aztecs) he ministered to; Diego Duran, Dominican chronicler with a lively interest in the native population; and Bernal Diaz a conquistador who wrote an eyewitness account.
                                                                                                                                                                                                  
The instruments of preconquest Mexicans that have survived are the percussive instruments still used in the music of Latin America- drums, rattles, and scrapers- and primitive wind instruments- flutes, clay trumpet. And conch shell horns. 
 
AFRICAN INFLUENCE
As many as thousand Africans arrived at the port of Veracruz  on slave ships during the early colonial period, and with them came the rhythms and musical traditions of western Africa, These slaves became an important part of the Mexican mestizaje(mix of peoples) that created the population from which regional Mexican music forms grew.
 
THE SPANISH CONTRIBUTION
European music came on the boats with the Spanish invasion of Mexico in 1519. Córtez’s party included musicians who entertained the troops, singing and playing the harp and Spanish vihuela. As the army made its way toward Tenochtitlan, capital of the notoriously fierce and wealthy Nahua empire.
Spanish festivals and saints' days mixed with indigenous ceremonies, quickly becoming an integral part of life in New Spain and occasions for great celebrations.​ 
THE ROOTS OF MARIACHI MUSIC
Provincial mariacheros were villagers who made their living in simple ways. They took their status very seriously, often traveling long distances to play where they were needed. They sometimes slept on the ground after playing day and night for fiestas and saint’s days. Some indigenous mariachis took vows of celibacy in order to be pure enough to receive the gift of music of the gods.
Provincial musicians wore their everyday clothes and, depending on their subregion, used some combination of violin, guitar, guitars de golpe, vihuela, harp, and guitarron. Occasionally groups included wind instruments such as the clarinet, saxophone, or cornet. 
Traditional mariachi music developed as part of the mestizo culture but was also adopted by indigenous communities.
 
CITATIONS;
Patricia Greathouse, MARIACHI, Gibbs Smith Publishers, 2009


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  • Home
    • Current Exhibitions
    • PRECIOUS MEXICAN METALWORK
    • Beautiful Mexican Art made with Plant Fibers
    • About >
      • Contact and Hours
  • Permanent Exhibition
    • Upcoming exhibition
    • Past Exhibitions >
      • The Joy of Mayan Photography by Mayan People & Mayan Textiles
      • Artisan Work
      • THE MAJESTIC FLAG OF MÉXICO
      • La Navidad_2024
      • Idyllic Dreams on Amate
      • Rich History of Botillier's Adobe
      • Dolores Botillier Adobe
      • ENTRE CORRALES Y NAGUALES
      • METAMORPHOSIS
      • Milagros
      • 213th Anniversary of Independence
      • Candelario Medrano, The Surrealist Folk Genius
      • Cinco de Mayo "Battle of Puebla"
      • Spirit of Fiesta, 2023
      • A FORTUNE INSIDE MY PIGGY BANK
      • Quiquiriquiando
      • ZOOMORPHIC CLAY CENSER
      • Christmas and Mexican Nativity Scenes
      • The Devotion of Altars on the Day of the Dead
    • REMEMBERING YOU WITH MUSIC
    • September / Patriotic Month
    • Native Mexican Garment
    • The Joy of Nativity Scenes
    • Our Day of the Dead Altar
    • Women of Mexican Independence (1810)
    • Divine Pitchers/ Jarras Divinas
    • Cinco de Mayo display
    • Legends of Mexican Cinema photos
    • Navidad Mexicana
    • Day of the Dead Altar 2021
    • Independence Day Display 2021
    • Splendors of "The Tree of Life"
    • Mexican Independence Day
    • Navidad 2020
    • Old Postcards from México
    • La Catrina from its origins
    • OTOMÍ DREAM
    • NATIVITY SCENES 2019
    • Three Wise Man Celebration
    • DAY OF THE DEAD 2019
    • Whimsical Tales of Ocumicho
    • Mexican Independence Day display 2019
    • Lacquers from Uruapan
    • Mariachi outfit and its history
    • The Popular Mexican Velvet Hat
    • Cinco de Mayo -2019
    • Green-Glazed Ceramics
    • Double Exhibition
    • Chistmas Nativities-2018
    • Day of the Dead / El Día de Los Muertos 2018
    • Patriotic Play: Figures of the Mexican Revolution
    • Mexican Independence Day 2018
    • Fiesta Display: Traditional Mexican Embroidery
    • Traditional Toys
    • Cinco de Mayo 2018
    • Splendors of Oaxacan Art
    • Nacimiento Navideño 2017
    • Día De Los Muertos 2017
    • Birds of Clay: Burnished Pottery from Jalisco
    • ¡Alebrijes! Alebrijes!
    • Mystical Masks / Máscaras Místicas
    • Nacimiento Navideño/ Nativity Sets & Scenes 2016
    • El Día De Los Muertos 2016
    • Muñecas Tradicionales / Traditional Dolls
    • Barro Petatillo y Petate de Palma
    • Dîa de los Muertos 2015
    • Bandera Ware/ Flag Ware
    • Past Events
    • Saintly and Spirited: Art Made of Tin
    • ¡LOTERÍA! Mexico's Game of Chance and Poetry
    • Tree of Life / El Arbol de la Vida
    • Mexico Dreams Animals
    • A Photographic Stroll
    • Transportation ¡DALE!
    • ¡Buen Provecho! Dining in Mexico
    • Bandera Ware
    • Bandera Ware
    • Spotlight Gallery >
      • A painting by José Salazar
  • Get Involved
    • Donations
  • Links
  • Collections
    • Tin Art