Mariachi facts for kids

Traditional mariachi band

Mariachi is a lively type of Latin music that comes from Mexico. It's a big part of Mexican culture and is loved by many people around the world. Mariachi music is played using instruments like the violin, trumpet, guitar, vihuela, guitarrón, and sometimes a harp.

Most Mariachi music is performed by bands. However, some famous solo singers, like Selena and Alejandro Fernández, have also recorded and performed Mariachi songs.

What is a Mariachi Band?

Mariachi group playing at the 10th anniversary celebration of Wikipedia in Guadalajara

The number of musicians in a Mariachi group can change. A typical Mariachi band today often has up to eight violins, two trumpets, and at least one guitar.

Special Mariachi guitars include the vihuela. This is a high-pitched, round-backed guitar that helps keep the rhythm. There's also a bass guitar called a guitarrón, which also provides rhythm. Sometimes, a Mexican folk harp is used to play the bass notes and add pretty melodies. All these instruments are Mexican versions of older European instruments.

Singing in Mariachi

In a Mariachi group, there isn't usually just one main singer. All the musicians often sing the choruses together. They also take turns singing the lead parts. A singer might be chosen for a certain song because their voice fits it perfectly.

Mariachi singing styles are influenced by different types of music. These include bolero (a romantic style), huapango (which uses high-pitched falsetto voices), and son jalisciense (a strong, energetic style). Singers need powerful voices to be heard over the loud instruments. The singing often sounds like opera, and the musicians show off their skills, which comes from advanced musical training.

Historically, Mariachi groups were mostly made up of men. However, more and more women are now becoming Mariachi musicians, which is great!

Songs and Celebrations

Mariachi with guitarrón

Mariachi groups are often asked to play specific songs. This means they might need to know hundreds of different tunes! Many songs are about themes like love, betrayal, or heroes. Some even tell stories about animals and country life, showing where the music came from as rural son music. A very famous Mariachi song is “La Cucaracha” (The Cockroach).

Mariachi music is often played at family parties and religious events. They are also popular for serenades, which are musical performances given to someone special. One of the most common songs Mariachis play is “Las Mañanitas” for birthdays and celebrations of patron saints.

In Mexico, Mariachi music is even part of some Catholic church services. For example, the Misa panamericana is a Mariachi folk mass sung in Spanish. It uses new arrangements of classic hymns like "Kyrie Eleison". This idea started in 1966 with a Canadian priest named Jean Marc Leclerc. It began in a small church and later moved to the Cuernavaca Cathedral.

Famous Mariachi Artists

Many talented artists have performed Mariachi music. Here are a few well-known ones:

• Vicente Fernández
• Alejandro Fernández
• Chayito Valdez
• Selena

Images for kids

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  Mariachi singer

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  Figures depicting an old-style mariachi band in clay by José Guadalupe Panduro of Tonalá, Jalisco, on display at the Museo de Arte Popular in Mexico City

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  Mariachi band playing at the Tenampa in Mexico City

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  Mariachi woman in modern attire playing the violin

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  Monument to the mariachi in Plaza Garibaldi, Mexico City

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  Mario Santiago and Silvestre Vargas in a musical presentation, 1958–1959

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  Female mariachi vocalist at the Festival del Mariachi, Charrería y Tequila in San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico

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  Mariachi group playing at the 10th-anniversary celebration of Wikipedia in Guadalajara

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  Silvestre Vargas (1901-1985), violinist and musician of the Mariachi Vargas from 1921 to 1975, director from 1931 to 1955

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  Mariachi Vargas in 1950

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  George and Laura Bush at the White House with Mariachi Campanas de América

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  The Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea is an all-female Mariachi group from Los Angeles, California. They were started in 1999 by Cindy Shea. In 2009, they became the first all-female mariachi to be nominated for and win a Grammy Award. By 2014, they had been nominated for five Grammy awards and won twice. They are the official Mariachi group of the Disneyland resort.

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  Lupita Infante is an American singer-songwriter. Her grandparents were famous Mexican performers, Lupita Torrentera and Pedro Infante.

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  María José Quintanilla, a Chilean singer of ranchera

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  Image of a mariachi fiddler

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  Mariachi, Heart of Mexico

See also

In Spanish: Mariachi para niños