Mariachi Ensemble

The origins of the word mariachi are obscure, although the earliest groups were formed in the Mexican state of Jalisco. The core instrumentation of the mariachi ensemble includes the violin, the vihuela (small 5-stringed guitar), guitar, and the large horizontal bass called the guitarrón, a Mexican invention that replaced the diatonic harp early in the 20th Century. Trumpets were added to the ensemble with the first recordings and had become standard by the 1950s. The trajes de charro (Mexican cowboy suits) are an important aspect of contemporary mariachi showmanship. More important is the traditional musical showcasing of individuals and choruses in the ensemble. Mariachi music is celebratory in nature. It is common in Mexico for family and friends, or admirers to arrange for a loved one to be serenaded by a mariachi musician at dawn on their birthday, or in the middle of the night. Also, it is the favorite music at weddings and other important family fiestas and for important Mexican celebrations like Cinco de Mayo (Mexican victory over French forces in Puebla on May 5, 1862) and Diez y seis de septiembre (September 16, Mexican Independence from Spain in the 1820s).