A mariachi is the name given to a particular type of Mexican musical group. Three guitars, one normal, one bass guitaron, and one higher-tuned vihuela, as well as two trumpets and three violins, make up the average modern mariachi. These groups are easily recognized by their traditional attire, which includes silver studs and wide hats. The name itself has no known origins, though some speculate that it is derived from the French word mariage, which simply means “marriage,” and refers to the fact that these bands were frequently seen performing at weddings.
The mariachi band’s music is first and foremost dance music, and a number of specific dances have developed to accompany it. The Mexican Hat Dance, which is also the country’s national dance, is undoubtedly the most well-known of these dances. The Spanish zapateado, a percussive, high-energy dance style, is the broad dance technique used with mariachi music.
The mariachi genre originated in the late 1800s in the Mexican town of Cocula, in the state of Jalisco. Originally, the group planned to use a harp instead of the deep bass guitarron, but the guitarron was eventually replaced due to its portability. Early bands also lacked trumpets, which were added in the early twentieth century.
A mariachi band would have been associated with a number of haciendas in the early days, performing for wealthy patrons on a temporary basis. However, after the Mexican Revolution and the collapse of the hacienda system, the bands were forced to become roving buskers in order to survive. They would perform for free in public squares or at community gatherings in the hopes of making a living off tips.
Mariachi music began to spread outside of its native region in the 1930s, and into Mexico City and other major cities. The Mariachi Vargas, founded by Gaspar Vargas at the end of the nineteenth century and popularized by his son, Silvestre Vargas, was the first largely successful band. Mariachi Vargas influenced future generations of performers by creating many classic arrangements of this style of music, including adding trumpets to the ensemble.
When Linda Ronstadt released her album Canciones de Mi Padre in the late 1980s, this music made its mainstream debut in the United States. Her inspiration came from her family’s ranch in Arizona and their tradition of singing traditional Mexican folk songs.
Mariachi musicians can be found in a variety of settings across Mexico, the United States, and even Central and South America. The music is frequently heard at weddings and quinceaneras, which are large parties celebrating a girl’s 15th birthday. Many restaurants keep entertainers on hand to walk from table to table serenading diners who request a song. A band’s repertoire tends to be sentimental, which makes it ideal for romantic courtship.