The music of Zacatecas is the product of the miscegenation between European, American and African traditions. Despite the few historical and archaeological references in the pre-Hispanic period, it is presumed that regional indigenous music sought to imitate the sounds of nature.
With instruments made of clay, reed and skins, the natives accompanied their rituals and warrior dances.
As a result of colonization, the influence of the crossing of cultures was evidenced in the use of string instruments, drums and in the use of chords.
The Mexican Revolution was an event that almost managed to exterminate the musical and dance tradition of Zacatecas. Despite this, it managed to survive in places like Monte Escobedo, Morelos and Valparaíso.
Currently the official bodies and the Zacatecan society are working to rescue their musical heritage.
Music of Zacatecas
The Tamborazo
The vigorous character of the Zacatecanos is represented in the Tamborazo, an autochthonous musical trend that uses percussion martial instruments such as the snare drum (snare), the tambora and cymbals; and wind like the saxophone, the trumpet and the clarinet.
The Tamborazo or breath bands dates from the 19th century. It is typical of the south of the altiplano and north of the sierra, properly of the Jerez and Villanueva de Zacatecas municipalities.
Its sound is very characteristic; garbaso and ranchero. It is identified at the beginning of each piece, first a tamborazo sounds and after a beat the whole band enters.
At present the Tamborazo accompanies syrups, corridos, sones and national songs. The most representative musical pieces to the sound of the Tamborazo are:
- The Variritas
- The Ahuichote
- Las Huilotas
- The Herradero
- The Blue Birds
- The March of Zacatecas
The March of Zacatecas
The Zacatecan people are recognized for their ancestral mining vocation.
This activity occupied a large part of its population and many of its traditions were derived from it, especially in relation to music.
The work in the mines was carried out in pairs, while one miner chipped the stone and the other carried the bar.
On Saturdays, at the end of the day the miners gathered with friends and family to drink mezcal and in the middle of the celebration they used to reproduce the sounds of their tools with improvised percussion instruments.
The celebration and revelry lasted the entire night. The next morning, the women went out to look for their husbands in the prisons.
Inspired by tradition, Genaro Codina composes the musical piece Marcha de Zacatecas, a theme belonging to the musical trend of the tamborazo.
This priceless musical jewel is considered the anthem of the charro associations and the second Mexican national anthem.
In modern times, groups of 8 to 10 musicians gather during regional celebrations and sing the march before beginning the joyous journey through the alleys of the city.
Choral music
Important vocal works made up of pieces authored by famous Zacatecan composers of the XIX and XX centuries are part of the musical heritage of the state.
The legacy of music personalities such as Fernando Villalpando, Manuel Barrón y Soto, Isauro Félix, Candelario Huízar and Octaviano Sigala among others, has been staged by the entity's most prominent choral groups.
Currently, Zacatecas has the Zacatecas Opera Company, the State Choir and important orchestral groups that disseminate and project the musical heritage of the region both nationally and internationally.
References
- Culture of Zacatecas. (sf). Retrieved on October 29, 2017 from: explorandomexico.com.mx.
- Music from Mexico. (October 30, 2017). In: es.wikipedia.org.
- Zacatecas. Cultural and Tourist Attractions. (sf). Retrieved on October 30, 2017 from: siglo.inafed.gob.mx.
- Zacatecas. (October 24, 2017). In: es.wikipedia.org.
- Zacatecas. (sf). Retrieved on October 30, 2017 from: encyclopedia.com.