ETHNOMUS 108B Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Vihuela, Mariachi, Huichol People
13 Dec 2016
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Lecture 9 04/28/2016
Mariachi
● Definitions of mariachi, traditional mariachi, son
● Comparing traditional mariachi to huichol popular music groups
○ Whether people should call the huichol groups mariachi
Early Mariachi
● Many think of it as originally from Jalisco
○ One of many states where it was centered
○ Origins: southern half of Jalisco, state of Colima, Michoacán, Guerrero, Nayarit
○ Central Mexican origins
● Etymology
○ Some thought the word came from French word for marriage
■ Now disproven
■ French occupation of Mexico (1863-1867)
○ Archival document from 1852 that mentions “mariachi”
■ Priest in Nayarit writing a complaint to his archbishop
■ Church authorities found the music offensive and risque
○ Mariachi also refers to the musician themselves
■ Sometimes refers to the tarima (wooden dance platform)
○ Name can encompass the entire event, music, and performers
Common Instrumentation of Early Mariachi
● Varied greatly depending on circumstances
● Three music parts to be covered (melody, chords, bass)
○ Three main instruments used: melody, chords, bass
● 1) Melody
○ Usually one or two violins
○ Or arpa (harp)
● 2) Chords/ harmony
○ Vihuela (5-string, short neck, arched back)
○ Guitarra de golpe (5-string)
■ Not as popular today
○ Shorter than a common guitar, smaller body
○ Arched back
● 3) Bass
○ Arpa (harp)
○ Guitarron (6-string, large, arched back)
■ Larger than the vihuela (same shape)
○ violon/ tololoche (upright acoustic bass)
● Cuarteto Coculense
Context of Early Mariachi
● Musicians paid for performing by villagers
○ For social dance and celebration
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Document Summary
Comparing traditional mariachi to huichol popular music groups. Whether people should call the huichol groups mariachi. Many think of it as originally from jalisco. One of many states where it was centered. Origins: southern half of jalisco, state of colima, michoac n, guerrero, nayarit. Some thought the word came from french word for marriage. Archival document from 1852 that mentions mariachi . Priest in nayarit writing a complaint to his archbishop. Church authorities found the music offensive and risque. Mariachi also refers to the musician themselves. Sometimes refers to the tarima (wooden dance platform) Name can encompass the entire event, music, and performers. Three music parts to be covered (melody, chords, bass) Three main instruments used: melody, chords, bass. Shorter than a common guitar, smaller body. The strophic form: singing different verses with the same music accompaniment. Example of double entendre (doble sentido-- popular in son) Example of sesquialtera (especially in the vihuela part)
