Spanish music boasts an expansive and varied history that continues to fascinate audiences worldwide. Ranging from traditional folk tunes to modern pop hits, there is so much variety for audiences of all kinds to explore!
Flamenco music and dance is a vibrant style of music characterized by passionate singing and intricate guitar playing, combined with expressive dancing. Originating in Andalusian region and heavily influenced by Gypsy, Moorish, and Jewish cultures.
Mariachi
Mariachi music tells stories of love, heartbreak, patriotism and other intense emotions with its high-energy rhythms and beautiful melodies that can move people to dance or bring tears to their eyes. Additionally, it is considered highly spiritual with lyrics that speak directly to your soul.
The origin of mariachi remains mysterious. It may derive from Spanish verb “maricar,” meaning to kiss, or it could simply be an abbreviation for “people of mixed Indigenous and European descent”. Additionally, it could have been named after Hernan Cortes’ wedding because mariachi bands often performed during such celebrations.
Mariachi ensembles typically combine traditional Mexican instruments such as violin, trumpet and guitar into an ensemble soundscape, usually featuring polyphonic sounds from their violins and trumpets playing countermelodies to the vocalist. A unique guitarron instrument gives mariachi its bass foundation; additionally harps add melodic accents or play along with melodies while creating powerful bass lines.
Banda
Bandas typically consist of 10-20 musicians, led by an experienced vocalist. They play various musical genres such as corridos and rancheras; their unique instrumentation and energetic beat make them ideal for dances, festivals and celebrations – their songs often explore love, heartache and social issues as well.
Banda music began its life in Sinaloa during the 19th century. Influenced by European colonist military bands and brass instruments, Mexican communities developed wind bands as an expression of culture to mark public events; eventually leading to its development into banda genre.
Banda music is characterized by the use of clarinets, trumpets, valve trombones, alto horns, tubas and drum sets – with vocalists singing mexican-influenced songs and employing distinctive techniques such as the grito mexicano (grillo mexicano). While male soloists dominate this style of music performance, notable female artists who can be heard include Graciela Beltran, Diana Reyes Yolanda Perez and Beatriz Adriana among many others.
Corrido
Corrido ballads were popular narrative ballads popular among people living along the border between Mexico and the United States. Derived from Spanish verb correr, or to “run,” these songs typically feature fast tempos with quick narrative pace. Refrains or choruses tend to be avoided; instead an effective use of octosyllabic lines helps move along their stories more seamlessly.
Many of these stories commemorate figures involved in the Mexican Revolution or other historic events; yet, they also often portray injustices suffered by everyday citizens. “Kiansis,” for instance, which depicts a Mexican cowhand who killed two Texas sheriffs shoots two Texas sheriffs to counter Owen Wister’s assertion that only Anglo cowboys can make good cowhands.
Today, corridos have had an enormous influence on other musical genres and songs relating to American social justice issues, while modern artists such as El Fantasma have created their own version called narcocorridos or trapcorridos which focus on drug trafficking and violence in modern songs.