Mariachi is a musical style that dates back to 19th century Western Mexico. From the 19th to 20th century, it moved from rural areas into cities such as Guadalajara and Mexico City, along with the Mexican government's cultural promotion gradually re-labeled it as Son style, mariachi becoming the word for the urban term. The name Mariachi was given to the 3 or more-piece secular music groups native to the western states of Jalisco, Colima Nayarit, Mitchoacan and Guerrero. The musicians would dress in white pants and shirts that the peasant farmers of the 18th century traditionally wore. Present day bands wear ‘charro’ suits. The word Mariachi itself is believed to come from the French word "mariage" (marriage). Which form an essential part of weddings in Mexico. An alternate theory posits that the word comes from a Coca Indian word that originally referred to the platform on which the orchestra performed.
Before the arrival of the Spanish, music was played with rattles, drums, flutes, and conch-shell horns as part of religious celebrations. When the Spanish came they introduced violins, guitars, harps, brass and woodwind instruments, which mostly replaced the native instruments. The people in turn made and modified the instruments to use in
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Modern day Mariachi music was introduced in Mexico City in 1905, when farmers began moving to the city. Mariachi music is closely tied with Ranchera music. Originally mariachi and Ranchera were mostly about romantic themes, but as the Mexican economy worsened, the haciendas could no longer afford to have their own mariachi band on the premises and they let the musicians go. As a result of unemployment and harder times, the mariachi began to change themes, singing about revolutionary heroes or current events. In order to make money the Mariachi groups would have to wander around town, playing for a