mariachi
A form of Mexican folk music performed by ensembles of violins, trumpets, guitars, and the distinctive vihuela and guitarrón, synonymous with Mexican cultural identity.
In Depth
Mariachi music originated in western Mexico, particularly the state of Jalisco, in the 19th century. Traditional mariachi ensembles consisted of string instruments — violins, vihuela (a small, round-backed guitar), and guitarrón (a large acoustic bass guitar). Trumpets were added in the 1930s, giving mariachi its modern, brassy sound. The repertoire includes sones, rancheras, corridos, boleros, and huapangos.
Mariachi became Mexico's unofficial national music through its adoption by the film and recording industries in the mid-20th century. Singers like Pedro Infante, Jorge Negrete, and Vicente Fernández elevated mariachi to an art form of tremendous emotional power. UNESCO inscribed mariachi on the Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2011. Today, mariachi ensembles perform at celebrations from weddings to funerals, and mariachi education programs flourish in both Mexico and the United States. The tradition of the serenata — hiring mariachis to serenade a loved one — remains a living custom.
The word "mariachi" may come from the French word "mariage" (marriage) dating to the French intervention in Mexico — though Mexican scholars dispute this, pointing to indigenous Coca language origins.