Ay yay yay! Mariachi bands and music have become powerful and enduring symbols of Mexican culture.
Fiery trumpet calls and melodious guitars accompanied by the mellifluous voices of sombrero-clad mariachis have become a Mexican hallmark at home and abroad.
This history of mariachis is as rich and varied as the seemingly countless songs in their repertoires. Let’s look at this musical genre, from its beginnings hundreds of years ago to its modern incarnations and everything in between.
Spain’s Influence on the History of the Mariachis
Early mariachi probably wouldn’t have existed without the arrival of the Spanish in February 1517. Before the Spanish came, Mexico’s indigenous cultures were skilled instrument makers and players with unique regional folk music styles. There were percussion, flutes, and trumpet-like instruments, to name a few.
The Spanish brought trumpets, violins, and the pivotal six-string guitar called a vihuela. Locals learned to make and play these new instruments and create their own models. These include charangos and tiples. The African slaves whom the Spanish conquistadores carried to Mexico also added to the musical blending happening in Mexico.
The history of mariachis doesn’t start with the Spanish. But their arrival to Mexico from Spain brought the instruments that would prove vital in developing this iconic musical style.
Where Did the First Mariachi Music Come From?
The exact birthplace of mariachi music remains lost in time. What we do know is that mariachi culture’s roots began in the 16th century in western Mexico.
Fray Juan de Padilla taught locals in Cocula, in what is now the state of Jalisco, how to play European instruments. Neighboring states like Nayarit and Michoacán also make their claim to the mariachi crown. Yet mariachi’s precise geographical origins remain unknown.
However, this western Mexico heartland brought together folk music ensembles of varying styles, of which mariachi was one. They would travel the land looking for work. After Mexico became independent in 1821, mariachi musicians benefitted from an uprising in Mexican cultural promotion.
During much of the 19th century, mariachi ensembles would move around searching for gigs. Opportunities were common at haciendas, where musicians could typically earn more money than laborers.
Mariachi bands would also wander between towns, singing and performing in public for a fee. They often added waltzes and polkas to satisfy peoples’ demands. After all, mariachi is as much about dancing as it is about singing.
As the 19th century drew to a close, traditional mariachi songs received a boost that would eventually catapult its bands to worldwide fame.
What Was the First Mariachi Group?
In 1898, Don Gaspar Vargas founded what is often cited as the most important mariachi group in history in Tecalitlán, to the south of Jalisco. They were called Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán and enjoyed great success.
Moreover, in the 1920s, mariachi bands started congregating in Plaza Garibaldi in the country’s capital, Mexico City, making it the mariachi mecca.
Indeed, in 1931, Don Vargas passed the reins of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán to his son, Silvestre Vargas. He added extra musicians to the group and today is considered one of mariachi music’s greatest visionaries for his efforts. Silvestre’s ensemble won mariachi contests in Guadalajara in 1933 and Mexico City in 1934. They were also among the first mariachis to base themselves in Mexico City.
Mariachis were now integral to Mexican music. A mariachi band played during Independence Day celebrations and President Lázaro Cárdenas’ 1934 election campaign and inauguration.
The word “mariachi” became synonymous with Mexico and represented Mexican culture.
How Did Mariachi Music Become Famous Globally?
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With a groundswell of popularity behind them, Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán was emerging alongside the advent of media. In 1937, the band appeared in the movie “Asi es mi Tierra,” their debut in what would eventually reach more than 200 motion pictures.
That same year, they signed a record deal with RCA and have gone on to produce more than 50 recordings of waltzes, son huastecos (aka huapangos), polkas, and cumbias. Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán thrust mariachi music into the global mainstream and continues working today with their own YouTube channel and millions of fans worldwide. The group also set the bar and musical arrangements to which many still adhere.
After the Mexican Revolution, the 1920s and 1930s saw Mexico City and Plaza Garibaldi become the genre’s epicenter. Rural mariachi bands flocked to the area. Mariachi legends José Alfredo Jiménez and Chavela Vargas played in the plaza before worldwide fame.
Movies and radio further broadened mariachi’s appeal. However, a Mexican-American combination took the mariachi tradition to a new level.
How Did Mariachi Music Hit the United States?
Los Angeles was the entry point for mariachi groups in the 1940s. Within two decades, L.A. had become the U.S. equivalent of Mexico City, an urban center for mariachi music.
In 1961, Mexican-born American musician Nati Cano put together a mariachi group. Known as Los Camperos, they became the shining light of U.S. mariachi music. The group opened La Fonda restaurant in Los Angeles in 1969, a pioneering venue that combined food with a Mariachi showcase. Sadly, La Fonda closed its doors in 2020.
The final step in mariachi’s journey to its place in the mainstream came from an American folk singer.
Linda Ronstadt’s 1987 album, “Canciones de mi Padre,” featured a collection of traditional Mexican songs she’d grown up hearing at home. The disc has racked up more than 2 million sales in the United States. It’s the biggest-selling non-English language album in American record history. Many see this album as pivotal in cementing mariachi music into the non-Hispanic collection.
Nowadays, mariachi is particularly popular in southwest America, with bands for hire and mariachi-themed restaurants. The University of Texas in Austin has a mariachi band called the Mariachi Paredes de Tejastitlán.
Is Mariachi Music UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity?
Yes, in 2011, UNESCO placed mariachi music on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
That means UNESCO considers mariachi vital to protect because it is “made up of those intangible heritage elements that help demonstrate the diversity of this heritage and raise awareness about its importance.”
Today, you can hire mariachi bands almost anywhere and for any occasion. In Mexico, they’re very popular on Mother’s Day, with the song of choice, “Las Mañanitas,” plus birthdays, weddings, and fiestas — almost anywhere at any time.
The History of Mariachis: Mexico’s Changing Sounds
The music and appearance of mariachi bands are as iconic and memorable as a shot of tequila. Yet the modern mariachi sound and dress code have traveled a long way from folk musicians searching for work.
The history of mariachis is as much about who was playing as how it became popular. Let’s journey through the instruments that make up the rich sounds of mariachi music.
What Instruments Are Played in a Mariachi Band?
Mariachi bands started as string instrument ensembles. These are the instruments you’ll most likely see in a mariachi band today. Remember that exact line-ups change depending on the sound the band desires.
Most mariachi group members are expected to play at least one instrument and sing. Mariachi instruments may include the following:
- Violin, the typical four-string bowed type
- Vihuela is a small, guitar-like instrument with five strings and a rounded, convex back
- Guitarrón is the instantly recognizable giant bass guitar-type instrument with six strings and a rounded back similar to the vihuela
- Classic Spanish guitar
- Guitarra de golpe (hitting guitar) is similar to the vihuela but is a small, four-stringed guitar considered the original mariachi guitar
- Trumpet
Some other instruments in mariachi bands might include a harp, flute, and harmonica.
What Instruments Are Played in a Traditional Mariachi Band?
Like the birthplace of mariachi, the exact setup of the earliest mariachi groups is unknown. What we do know is that the 19th century saw two regions establish themselves as heartlands.
In the Jalisco area, the traditional mariachi group was a string instrument compilation. They comprised two violins, a guitarrón, and a vihuela. By contrast, the Tecalitlán, in southern Jalisco, had groups with two violins, a harp, and a guitarra de golpe.
The 20th century and the rising popularity of mariachi saw changes. Quartets grew to larger ensembles with musicians from different regions mixing styles. Spanish guitars, trumpets, and flutes were added, while the harp and guitarra de golpe became less fashionable.
By the 1950s, the unmistakable calls of the trumpet duet became a hallmark of many mariachi bands. A contemporary full mariachi band will include three violins, two trumpets, a vihuela, a Spanish guitar, and a guitarrón. Showbands may number 12 people, and school bands even more.
So the “traditional” mariachi group size and instrumentation really depend upon which era you wish to draw.
Why Was the Trumpet Added to Mariachi Groups?
The trumpet crept into mariachi psychology in the 1930s with the rise of jazz. It was soon found to add great depth, dazzle, and adaptability to the mariachi sound.
What Songs Do Mariachi Bands Play?
Many mariachi musicians know hundreds of songs. People often call out requests for favorite tunes in Plaza Garibaldi and streets across Mexico and beyond. Performers must be ready to play them instantly (and with gusto!) to keep the paying public enthralled.
It’s vital to remember that mariachi is as much about dancing as it is about singing. Here are some popular genres any self-respecting mariachi will have in their repertoire:
- Sones are fast-paced songs. People dancing provide the rhythm by stamping their feet into a wooden dance floor called zapateados. Listen to the famous “La Negra” and you’ll understand.
- Rancheras are “country” songs sure to get the crowd singing. “El Rey” by Vicente Fernández, the mariachi king himself, is a classic. Other rancheras follow themes of love, pride, and joy.
- Huapangos see couples line up in parallel lines with an upright torso while the feet perform quick steps. This duo makes the famous “La Malageña” sound great, showing how flexible the mariachi band setup can be. The violin often takes centerstage during a huapango.
- Polkas came to Mexico in the 19th century and became popular.
- Romantic boleros like “Aca Entre Nos” will give you the idea.
- Corridos are Mexican ballads that often cover fictional fables of rural life or important historical battles like Cinco de Mayo.
- Jarabe form usually covers courtship. Jarabe Tapatío is Mexico’s national dance, also known as the Mexican hat dance. A sombrero starts on the floor, and a couple performs an innocent and romantic dance routine until the song’s finale when they disappear behind the sombrero.
- Waltzes, and many more to satisfy modern tastes and demands.
Lots of modern Mariachi bands throw in whopping ‘Ay yay yays!’ to create a party atmosphere.
What Clothes Do Mariachi Bands Wear?
Early mariachis were folk bands with no documented formal attire and probably just wore their day-to-day clothes.
After the Mexican Revolution in 1910 and the rising success of mariachi, uniforms of sorts arrived. The first fashion was that of a horseman’s suit, called the traje de charro.
As their popularity and success grew, so did the mariachi’s clothes. Modern mariachis now wear something similar to the historic wealthy hacienda owners for whom the first bands played.
Garb includes short boots called botins, tightly-fitting pants (often with bright garnishes), and a short jacket and long-sleeved shirt. Gold or silver buttons add to the glamor while embroidery ties the spectacle together, sometimes with etchings of horses or horse riders. The finishing touches are a wide bow or knotted necktie and the customary sombrero.
Are There Female Mariachi Bands?
Male-only mariachi bands dominated the scene until the turn of the 20th century. Rosa Quirino was 13 when, in 1903, she joined a mariachi band, opening the doors for more women to become mariachis.
Today, there are many female mariachis. Indeed, since 2014, Los Angeles has celebrated its annual International Women’s Mariachi Festival.
How Did Mariachi Get Its Name?
The name “mariachi” was thought to derive from the French word for a wedding, which is mariage. Bands would play at these events, and this music became known as mariachi. That’s because Spanish is a phonetic language, and the words are spoken as written. The French word mariage would sound very much like mariachi when read out loud by a Spanish speaker.
Unfortunately, for etymologists out there, this tale is not accurate. Mariachi music originated in western Mexico, which the French didn’t conquer. They only arrived in Mexico around 1864, after the mariachi customs had begun. As such, no one knows where the word mariachi originates. Like other aspects of this iconic genre, it is shrouded in mystery.
The History of Mariachis: An Ever-Changing Emblem
Like many of the best discoveries, circumstance and chance played a big hand in the formation of mariachi bands. During their conquests, the Spanish took new instruments to Mexico, which locals learned to play and create.
Over time, different regions of Mexico, particularly the southwest, created their own sounds and traditions, blending local tunes with European influences. Groups traveled the country to entertain folks, and the history of mariachis began.
Then, Mexico’s independence and revolution made mariachi a symbol of Mexican pride. Movies and sound recordings sent their music further afield until worldwide fame was achieved. Now, in the 21st century, the mariachi tradition is enjoyed by millions globally.
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