Located in the valley region of the state of Jalisco, “Cocula” is a famous town that according to tradition, it was here where the musical proposal of Mariachi was born. The term “Mariachi” remains uncertain, but it is believed to derive from the word “coca”, name of a wooden platform where the natives performed their dances or “zapateados”.
During the Pre-Hispanic era, “Cocula” became a fascinating place for music. The ability of the indigenous to connect and play their rustic instruments to "feel close" to their main gods “Cocolli” and “Teocáyatl” was captivating. Indigenous music was played for special occasions like weddings and religious celebrations using instruments like horns and drums.
By the time the Spanish arrived in these lands, …show more content…
Therefore, a group of Mariachis were brought to sing on a birthday celebration of the President Porfirio Díaz and, years later the president again, invited them to entertain a party in honor of US Secretary of State. The event was broadcasted by national media, and starting from this point, the Mariachis became not only a symbol of professional artistic culture for Mexico but also for the world.
Mariachis have a unique musical ensemble, most of their instruments are European, considering their influence from the Spanish culture. Their primary instruments include; the harp, the guitar, the “vihuela”, the “Guitarrón”, the trumpets and the violin.
The harp, derived from the classical harp, has a large resonance box on which nylon strings are drawn. The strings mark the bass and the sharp strings sustain the harmony with chords. The “vihuela”, is a Mariachi authentic instrument created by the natives “cocas”. It is a small guitar that creates a high sound. It has a V-shaped back and five leather strings. It is played along with the guitar to create the rhythm and the harmonic foundation of Mariachi sound. The trumpets give musical strength and a more vibrant sound to the songs, while the violins blend with the sounds of the other instruments. The “guitarron” is a guitar similar to the vihuela, but larger in size. This is the most important element since it creates a big deep sound with six strings, forming the bass of the