Mariachi Sol de Mexico, Christmas Medley.
How about we warm up the season with a spicy Latin sound? No, not salsa or Afro-Cuban this time, but the signature music of Western and Northern Mexico as well as U.S. border regions--mariachi. The style had its roots in rural string bands in Guadalajara and were invigorated by introduction urban areas and the brass of military bands. Often identified as wedding music, by the mid-20th Century it became the virtual national music of Mexico.
Mariachi band traditionally outfit themselves in elaborate charo Mexican rodeo costumes and decorated sombreros. Ensembles vary in size by typically include fiddles, guitars, an acoustic base guitar called a guitarrion and trumpets. Accordions, harps, and a variety of brass instruments are also sometimes included, but typically there is no percussion instrument. Musicians trade off the lead and singing in a signature high tenor. Band perform in a variety of styles--rancheras, cumbias, corridos, bolleros, sones, pasodobles, marches, polkas, and waltzes. Most of the lyrics are about machismo, love, betrayal, death, politics, Revolutionary heroes, and country life.
Despite the name, Mariachi Sol de Mexico is an American band based in Los Angeles. It was founded and continues to be led by Jose Hernandez who came to the States with his parents from Mexicali at the age of four in 1962. He grew up in Pico Rivera, California and began to sing at four and play trumpet in his school music program at age 10. His interest in music eventually led him to study arranging and composition at the Grove School of Music in Hollywood from 1979 to '82.
Hernandez be came the leading exponent of Mariachi music in the U.S, Mariachi Sol de Mexico tours internationally and sells records and CDs in the U.S., Mexico and across Latin America. His Mariachi Heritage Society, a non-profit organization, has taught music to nearly 10,000 young people. He has arranged and produced recordings by Vikki Carr, Jose Feliciano, and Shaila Durcal and collaborated with Selina, Luis Miguel, Linda Ronstadt, Vincente Fernandez and Loa Beltran. He also founded Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, America's first all-woman professional mariachi ensemble.
Platinum selling Sol de Mexico has broken countless barriers to become the first mariachis to be nominated for a Grammy for the 2001 album Tequilla con Limon. Their original rhythms, fresh sounds, and inspiring ideas have energized the world of mariachi for more the 35 years. They are especially noted for adapting non-traditional sources to the genre including classical music, American pop, and world music.
One of Mariachi Sol de Mexico's Christmas albums.
On their2008 album Navidad en America and in their annual holiday concerts they display that versatility with numbers like The Nutcracker--A Merri-Achi Christmas, a 12-minute adaptation of Tchaikovsky's Nutracker Suite but today we will enjoy the band's Christmas Medley which mixes American and Mexican seasonal music--Sleigh Ride, Noche de Paz, White Christmas, and Feliz Navidad.
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