Table of Contents ii
Acknowledgements vi
Preface viii
Foreword ix
I. What is Mariachi? 1
1. Folk Music Origins 1
2. The Move to the City 3
3. The Transition to an Art Music 5
4. Common vs. Virtuoso Mariachi 11
5. The Modern Virtuoso Mariachi 15
6. What Is Mariachi? 19
II. The Mariachi Style 23
7. Teaching Methods 23
8. The Origins of a Trumpet Style 27
9. The Extent of Matching Sound 37
10. The Introduction of the Trumpet 43
11. Confirmation 51
II.A. Vibrato 57
12. Differentiation and Blend 57
13. Extra-Mariachi Vocal Examples 63
14. Mahler V 65
15. Bolero Vibrato 79
16. Vibrato Summation 83
II.B. Phrasing 85
17. Rubato 85
18. Bolero Rubato 91
19. Further Thoughts on Rubato 97
20. Son Phrasing 101
21. Haydn's Trumpet Concerto 107
22. Son Vibrato and Articulation 111
II.C. Mariachi Song Styles 115
23. Ranchera 117
24. Huapango 121
25. Polka 123
26. Paso Doble 125
27. Corrido 129
28. Vals 131
29. Transcriptions 133
30. Cumbia 137
31. Joropo 141
III. The Modern Virtuosos 143
32. Introduction to the Modern Virtuoso: Aesthetics and Voice 143
33. Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, Re-introduced 151
34. The Trumpet and Ruben Fuentes 155
III.A. Mariachi Vargas Today 159
35. El Viajero 161
36. Yo Se Perder 169
37. Their Revisionist Aesthetic 175
III.B. Mariachi Cobre 177
38. La Madrugada 181
39. Their Perfectionist Aesthetic 185
III.C. Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose L. Hernandez 187
40. Mexico Vive 189
41. Their Constructionist Aesthetic 199
42. Transcriptions 201
43. Concerto for Mariachi and Orchestra, Pasion Mexicana, by Jose L. Hernandez and Jeff Nevin 203
III.D. Conclusions 207
44. A Tradition of Innovation 207
Appendix 213
Appendix A. Mariachi Sinfónico Champaña Nevín and Florencia Tinoco Barone 213
Appendix B. A Proposal for Vihuela Notation 217
Appendix B.1. Naming 219
Appendix B.2. Rhythm or Pitch? 221
Appendix B.3. Special Effects: Apagon and Rasgueado 223
Appendix B.4. Direction of Strum 227
Appendix B.5. Caballito 229
Appendix B.6. Chord Designations 233
Appendix C. A Proposal for Guitarron Notation 235
Appendix C.1. Guitarron Pitch Notation 237
Appendix C.2. Special Effects 241
Appendix C.3. Caballito Rhythm 243
Appendix D. Concerto for Mariachi and Orchestra, Pasion Mexicana Text 247
Mariachi on the Web 251
Bibliography 253
Recordings 255
Index 259
About the Author 267
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