Mariachi Research Paper

Highways & Byways: Mariachi Los Gallitos
*Before we discuss my Mariachi Los Gallitos experience, I believe it is important to share a brief history of the Mariachi as a whole and this particular group individually. * The name of the Mariachi is disputed amongst many musicologists and folklorists. Some argue that “mariachi” derives from the French term “mariage” meaning wedding or marriage while others argue the term originates from its indigenous roots of the platform structures that they performed on. They are a visual and audible representation of musicality and the embodiment of the Western Mexican culture. The Mariachi has a very distinct dress and has musicality influences from all over the world. This musical ensemble, in particular, used a methodology of blending native stylings with foreign influences. The Mariachi is composed of several different instruments including the trumpet, guitarron (originally the harp), bass guitar, rhythm guitar, and the violin. Initially, the Mariachi was composed of only string instruments, and it wasn’t until 1933 in which trumpets were added to the mix. In fact, the Mariachi began as a four man ensemble that over time grew into the modern version we see today. In this instance, they utilized regional traditions to alter the quantity of instrumentations based on personal preference. The
However out of the 40 years, only the last thirty-four have been spent traveling across the US and bordering countries as a professional group where they have exhibited their talents in many notable venues such as the Smithsonian's Festival of American Folk life in Washington, D.C., the Festival Internationale de Louisianne, and the Houston International Festival. The Mariachi Los Gallitos reaches an innumerable amount of people due to their ability to incorporate different genres (country, pop, rock ‘n roll, jazz, etc.) into the traditional stylings of the Mexican