Mariachi Music Presentation

Like Mariachi, Ranchera is another traditional genre of music admired by the Mexican people but different in its own ways. Ranchera music is a well-known type of music from Mexico, with the name deriving from ranch lands on which the style was initially performed. Ranchera songs are categorized by intense sentiment and subjects of love dominate poetic lyrics. Sentimental ranchera singers, their voices charged with a contagious emotion, are often capable of moving to tears even their most hardened listeners. Waltz, polka and bolero inspired rhythms accompany the singer along with sudden cries of emotion that highlight the singer’s sorrowful mood. Ranchera is in fact a general label for different types of music. The genre has absorbed many specific

As more and more Mexicans came across the border to the U.S., they brought their traditions and culture with them. Mariachi was now a part of this culture all across Mexico. Mariachi music could be found in cafes and public squares all across the Southwest by the 1950’s. Today, it can still be heard in public venues in the Southwest, and it can also be heard at festivals and concerts all across the country. When Linda Ronstadt released an album of mariachi music in 1988, the genre reached nationwide popularity (Sharp, 2004).

American culture is heavily influenced by the Hispanic culture because when Hispanic people move to America they bring their culture with them. Their culture has influenced our religion, cuisine, social media, etc. Hispanic people make up 15.8% of the population in America so it is no surprise that they are the leading minority group to have influence on American culture.

To help me understand and analyze a different culture, I watched the film Selena. The film tells the life story of the famous singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez. Not only does it just tell personal stories from her life, it also gives insight to the Mexican-American culture. Her whole life she lived in the United States, specifically in Texas, but was Hispanic and because of that both her and her family faced more struggles than white singers on the climb to her success. Even though the film is a story about a specific person, it brought understanding into the culture in which she lived. Keeping in mind that these ideas that I drew about the Mexican-American culture is very broad and do not apply to every single person in the culture, there

My cultural identity, as I know is Mexican American because both my parents are born in Mexico and I was born here. I can also be defined as a Chicana because that is another way used to call a Mexican American. My culture can be seen in so many different ways like for example it can be seen in food, music, religion, dance, art, festivals, and even more. Most of these traditions have changed a little bit over time as they were brought to the U.S. What I mean by that is that some of those traditions were brought from Mexico, and had a little change into them because they were combined with some traditions that have already been here in the U.S.

3. Discuss one scene, which you liked and why you feel it was a good scene.

The song "La Chicharonera" was sung by Narciso Martinez in 1936. The song was a big hit and that's how Martinez's career started with instant success. Martinez was considered the father of the Conjunto music as he spread his cultural and tradition through his music. Moreover, he was best known for "El Hurricane del Valle" as he was really good with swift playing. He had the capability of recording 20 different tunes in one single day. HIs music was so good that it became famous not only in Mexico, but also on the other side of the borderland called Taxes. Some of the example of his classic song tunes include "La Chicaronera," "La Prrita," "La Polvadera," and "Los Coyotes" (Harris Craig). All of the tunes were solo performance of Martinez but,

There are multitudinous types of Chicano music that include all types of instruments, verses, backgrounds, and purposes. According to Tatum (2001), “The popular Hispanic folk music has deep roots in Spain and Mexico, but it is a living cultural form that is forever changing and adapting to new social conditions and musical currents (Robb 1980, 5)” (p.15). Modernization also plays a key role in the diversion of Chicano music. For example, as new instruments were being invented, they were then incorporated into the music, making it sound more different and attractive. The types of Chicano music range from romance which could narrate an event, corridos, which was a form of cultural differentiation, alabanzas, which were specifically religious, and the canción, in which lovers expressed their deep adoration for each other (Tatum 2001). If a man who was lost in his woman’s eyes wanted to choose a song for their

The culture I choose to explore is the Hispanic culture. I choose this culture because many of the people I work with and many of my friends identify with the Hispanic culture and I feel it would be interesting to know more about a culture that is so relevant to my life. A few of the big things in Hispanic culture that I found interesting are language, traditions and food. Hispanic refers to a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture.

To Maria, Mexican culture revolves all around your family, morals, and traditions and religion. “You have to be proud of where you come from, Mexican culture is about being proud of who you are” said Maria. “My Father taught all of my brothers and sisters to look out for one another because with out family you have nothing.” Ever since Maria born her family has been very religious. She was baptized in a church is Guadalajara, but she

Popularity of movies was on the rise in most Mexican barrios. The corridos and the rancheras gave way to a nightclub dance craze, with live bands playing Latin American music. The second generation, which often preferred Euro-American forms of entertainment, was English speaking. White nativist insisted that Mexicans should listen only to English on radio.

The last genre Norteño is comprised of other music like “Tejano” or “Tex-Mex”. This kind of music is very relatable to me and is personally one of my favorite type of Mexican music. A twelve string guitar known as “bajo sexto” and the accordion are Norteño’s most characteristic instruments. Norteño music is usually played by a group of men or a band. The music is originated from migrated europeans who traveled to northern

After the Mexican Revolution of 1910, a nationalistic sentiment spread throughout Mexico as they sought to form a unified identity under its new constitution. Under the new organization of the country, Mexico underwent many political and social changes, many of them violent. At the turn of the 20th century, Mexican nationalism was of the utmost importance. Finally, the masses of Mexican poor began to have a voice in their own destiny and began to seek out a national identity. In order to be fully immersed in an identity that seemed ambiguous due to centuries of colonization, Mexico looked to the arts to help mold Mexico’s new character as a country. Muralists like Rivera, Siqueiros, Orozco and Khalo portrayed the struggle for freedom and democracy against the oligarchs that had exploited the poor for decades. Music also played a pivotal role in expressing nationalistic views and ideas through movements such as the traditional and the “indigenismo”. One of the composers who was at the forefront of the “indigenismo” movement was Carlos Chávez. Chávez strived to distance himself from romantic influences and practices, and searched for new methods to create pieces that were for everyone, not just the elite. Chavez’s investigation of indigenous Indian cultures, native folk elements, and dance forms brought an unprecedented vigor and visibility to 20th century Mexican Music. Chávez traveled to Europe and the United States to gain recognition beyond Mexico’s border, thus catapulting his influence on Mexico’s musical style and cultures.

culture is shown through their music. For instance, the way Willie Brown blowed the harmonica

Flamenco is a form of Spanish folk music which originated in Andalusia in the south of the country. This type of music as we know it today is a spectacle which is made up for four different elements Cante-Voice, Baile-Dance, Toque-Guitar, and the Jaleo, which roughly translated means “hell raising” and involves hand clapping, foot stomping, and encouraging shouts of the audience ("Flamenco - History."). However it was not always like this. Flamenco was first recorded in the late 18th century and consisted of what the Spanish refer to as Palo Secos, or dry styles.("Flamenco - History."). This was basicly singing or chanting accompanied only by a rhythm beaten out on the floor by a wooden staff or cane. However the genre underwent a dramatic development in the late 19th century and had become the spectacle that we know today. In the past flamenco music was not very widespread outside the region of its origin. However in