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Mariachi is Mexico’s most popular brand of folk music. The name refers to the music, the musicians and the bands that play it. Mariachi’s origins go back centuries. It was originally the music of country people; music that celebrated joys, struggles, and triumphs of the Mexican people. The Mariachi was a version of Spanish theatrical orchestra containing violins, guitars and a harp. By the end of the nineteenth century, the cocula or the vihuela, two violins, and the guitarron were the instruments of the Mariachi.

The musical style began to take on national prominence in the first half of the 20th century, with its promotion at presidential inaugurations and on the radio in the 1920s. However its use in Mexican film “comedia ranchera” in the 1930s propelled it to national and international. By the 1950s the Mariachi ensemble was becoming more flexible and orchestral without losing its traditional base. The classical guitar, two trumpets and more violins were added to make the ensemble more adaptable and able to play different styles. Since then, the music has been played in many parts of the world but gained popularly as a genre in the United States, mostly through its promotion in school bands and at mariachi festivals, especially in the southwest states.

Mariachis often help celebrate the great moments in the lives of the Mexican people. With the serenata (serenade), the Mariachi participates in the rite of courtship. In a society where the young members of opposite sexes were kept apart, the serenata was a means of communication by which a young man could send a message of love to the woman of his heart. In many areas of Mexico, it is not unusual to be awakened by the sound of Las Mañ anitas, the traditional song for saints days, or birthdays. Mariachis are also commonly hired for baptisms, weddings, patriotic holidays, and even funerals.

If you’re planning an office event, chamber concert, wedding ceremony or special event that calls for professional Austin wedding musicians, San Antonio wedding musicians, Austin mariachi or San Antonio mariachi, please contact us so we can help. Our performances can range to include the trumpet, violin, cello, string quartet, and so much more! From traditional wedding music to contemporary choices, we provide the perfect setting for that special event.