Discover Mexico's musical heritage.
Mexico has a long and rich musical tradition. Pre-conquest Mexico was a place in which fine arts flourished. Indigenous Mexican music eventually gave way to music with heavy Spanish influences. Classical music has been made in Mexico since 16th century. Folk music has heavily influenced contemporary Mexican pop music. Mexico also has its own distinct jazz tradition. Today, Mexican music reflects a wide range of global influences while retaining traditional elements.
Aztec Times
Music was an important part of Aztec religious ceremonies. Aztec musical instruments included shells used as wind instruments; cocoloctli, a flute that made a special buzzing sound; the ayotl, a percussion instrument made from a tortoise shell; the teponaxtle, a cylindrical piece of wood hollowed out to produce a box sound; huehueles, large Indian drums; and omichicahuaztlis, rasps of wood and bone.
Indigenous Music
Nomadic tribes like the Yaquis and Seris have allowed Aztec music to be handed down in its purest form. The New York Times explains that "in Yaqui Music, the melody is carried by a flute, accompanied by a large variety of percussion instruments, among which ar bunches of dried cocoons, called 'capullos de mariposa'." It is because of Yaqui music that several Pre-Conquest Aztec hymns are extant.
Traditional Folk Music
The traditional folk music of Mexico includes, sones, mariachi, bolera and cumbia and is a blend of Spanish and indigenous influences. The cumbia was introduced to Mexico during the 1950s by artists like Luis Carlos Meyer and it was quickly adapted to local tastes. Rancheras are a type of Mariachi music based on patriotism and a love of nature. Boleras are based on Cuban music.
Corridos
Corridos were the popular music of the Mexican Revolution. They can best be describes as unofficial versions of history and current events. According to Guillermo E. Hernández, "Corridos have been sung for almost two hundred years." Because they are "composed, transmitted, and consumed by rural and urban working classes people distant from circles of power and prestige the genre expresses viewpoints that often contradict or stand in direct opposition to dominant perspectives.",
Popular Music
Mexican music began to have mainstream crossover music success in the 1950s with Richie Valen's hit "La Bamba." In the 1990s, Selena had several hits which brought Mexican-American music to the forefront. In 2007, the New York Times reported that several of Mexico's biggest popular music stars had been murdered in a gruesome fashions. The musicians performed songs that dealt with drugs and crime and it is likely that they were killed in retribution for their work.
