When you think of Mariachi, you may picture an ensemble dressed in their traditional suits, playing upbeat music with guitars, strings and horns, and singing in Spanish. However, behind this vague summation is a long lineage of musicianship, tradition, folklore, and oh yea, not just one type of guitar, but 3. In December, I visited Dallas to record a world renowned group of Mariachi musicians for a Splice exclusive sample pack that is unlike anything else that currently exists.
We covered multiple sub-genres, like Huapango, featuring a rhythmic strumming of the Vihuela, a stringed instrument which I’ll get to later. We recorded Ranchera, a slower, more balladic sub-genre. Think of the legendary Vicente Fernandez, who sang iconic Rancheras like Volver, Volver, and El Rey. Lastly, we recorded Bolero, a sub-genre of Ranchera, known for its moody, romantic lyrics.
Now, as I mentioned earlier, there are 3 different types of guitars in Mariachi music, the Vihuela,, Guitarron, and Guitarra, as well as violins, and trumpets , with each instrument playing a distinct role in the music. While chemistry and teamwork are what makes the magic happen, each musician here has spent years studying not only their craft, but the history of the music and where their instrument fits into the ensemble. Watch the video to learn more about each instrument, as well as each musicians story with Mariachi music.
