Mariachi developed in the communities of the center-west of Mexico after a process of transculturation between Mexican, Spanish, African and possibly other cultures.
This area includes Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Michoacán and a bit of Guerrero. It was in these regions where these groups called “mariachi” played brightening parties, baptisms, weddings, masses and even funerals. Several different melodic, rhythmic and literary forms have emerged within mariachi. In Michoacán, walloons, minuets, jarabes, gustos and sones planecos are played; in Zacatecas jarabes, cuadrillas and habaneras stood out; in Jalisco polkas, sones cruzados and rancheras. All these pieces were normally performed in a group with two violins, a vihuela, a golpe guitar, a large harp and/or the guitarrón which play the basses. In addition, as a percussion instrument, this is accompanied by a platform that is a wooden box, where they dance and stomp, on which couples take turns to tap and everyone at the party is part of the music.
Over time, mariachi was modernized, first with the charro suit, and later the charro gala suit was incorporated. The trumpet came in the 1930s.
Unfortunately, in modern mariachi, one hardly hears any old tunes or songs, which seek the integration of people and tradition. Now more commercialization and show has been sought, which is why this traditional music has been hidden from society for a long time. Mariachi Tradicional Los Pitayeros seek to show and teach these beautiful traditions, as part of Mexico’s identity.