Mariachi History

Mariachi a type of musical group originally from Cocula, Jalisco, Mexico. Usually a mariachi consists of at least three violins, two trumpets, one Mexican guitar, one Vihuela (a high pitched, five-string guitar ) , one Guitarrón ( a small-scaled acoustic bass ) and occasionally a harp. The original Mariachi were Mexican street musicians or buskers. Many mariachis are professional entertainers doing paid gigs in the mainstream entertainment industry. Professionals are normally skilled at more than one instrument, and they also sing. They sometimes accompany ranchera singers such as Vicente Fernandez or event pop star Luis Miguel. Although ranchera singers dress in a traje de charro ( Charro suit ) they are not mariachis.

Although mariachis are hired to play at events such as weddings and other formal occasions, such as quinceañeras ( a girl’s fifteen birthday celebration ), they are very often used to serenade women because many of the songs in a typical repertoire have a s a theme the desire to touch the heart of the opposite sex. Mariachis can be found to hire in different places at night ( the best known venues at Plaza de los Mariachis in Gualajara and Plaza Garibaldi in Mexico city ) for the purposes of serenading, mother’s day are also another popular occasion for mariachis.

Tourists frequently confuse mariachis with all types of buskers seen in México. Mariachis refers to musicians who dress and play in a style typical of the Mexican state of Jalisco, although the style and music played has spread far beyond the limits of Jalisco and Jalisciense music itself.