What Is Mariachi?

What is Mariachi?

By Joseph Parish

There is merely one other thing that appears to be more Mexican than the popular tequila drink and that simply has to be mariachi. So well matched are the two that when you find one you generally find the other.

Mariachi tends to venture outside the normal sphere of music as it endeavors to sum up the entire Mexican Cultural Revolution in a musical manner. It is with this music, which is fittingly expressed through a musical group clothed in popular outfits which tends to encompass the real meaning of Mexico and its joyful people. It is something traditional, spiritual and cultural that is unique to the country of Mexico. It represents an experience in the Mexican way of life that every visitor to this country should encounter.

The name mariachi commonly refers to the musicians that one frequently observes in the Mexican restaurants or strolling along the street, generally dressed flamboyantly in their silver-studded “Charro” style outfit and sporting their popular wide brimmed hat. These musicians versed in playing a variety of musical instruments including the violins, trumpet, bass and the guitar. Their songs customarily impart such subjects as love, death, revolutionary heroes, betrayal, politics and even animals. Everyone is familiar with the famous Mexican song "La Cucaracha".

The mariachi allegedly originated within the southernmost segment of the Mexican state of Jalisco, around the 19th century. It is doubtful where the designation itself originated from though several presumptions has been suggested over the years. The earliest premise made, indicates that mariachi resulted from the French expression meaning wedding because of the mode of music presented at those events. The dilemma with this specific theory is that the music originated in a portion of Mexico, where the French had never visited.

Another theory quickly affirms that the name may be derived from the aboriginal name for the Cirimo tree where the wood is employed in the making of guitars. The problem here is if this were the actual case, then the word mariachi would likely indicate the instrument and not those who play it.

It has even been suggested that mariachi resulted from a festival in honor of a virgin known as Maria H, for which the musicians performed and that over a period of time, they were bestowed this name.

I believe that the actual truth is that no one is really sure where this name originated, however, it is granted a vast amount of respect and prestige not just in Mexico but throughout the world.

The origins of mariachi the group, culture, and the music, are not much easier to trace. The mariachi accounts for the sum of the cultural evolution, which has progressed over the last century in Mexico.

It is readily known that the indigenous tribes of Mexico used to make music with whistles, drums and flutes; however, there is no link between their music and that of the mariachi. The instruments that were originally used by the mariachi are those, which were introduced by the Spaniards such as harps, guitars and violins. Although the instruments were originally intended to be used during the church services the Mexicans of Spanish descent started using them in the creation of popular music as well, all to the dislike of the priests, due to the fact the music was accompanied by many of the satirical, scandalous or anticlerical songs of the time.

Today, mariachi music is performed around the world in places as far as Japan and Europe. This part of Mexico's culture and history are celebrated every September in its birthplace, Jalisco.

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