Vargas de Tecalitlán
This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2009) |
Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlán | |
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Years active | 1897 | –present
Labels | Nacional |
Members | Julio Martínez Enrique De Santiago Arturo Vargas Gilberto Macias Gustavo Alvarado Alberto Alfaro Andrés González Daniel Martínez Miguel Angel Barron Jorge Aguayo Carlos Martinez Manuel Alcaraz |
Past members | Luís Fernando Martínez Jose "Pepe" Martinez (Past Director) Steeven Sandoval (Violin) Fernando Velazquez (Trumpet) Federico Torres (Trumpet) José Martínez Jr. (Violin) |
Website | www |
Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlán is a Mexican folk ensemble of mariachi music founded in 1897 by Gaspar Vargas. Since 1950 it has been under the artistic guidance of Rubén Fuentes. The group's musical direction had been the responsibility of Don Jose "Pepe" Martínez from 1975 to around 2013-14. Now the ensemble is under the direction of Carlos Martínez (ex-director of Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlan).
Members
A minimum mariachi group has 2 violins, 2 trumpets, 1 guitarrón, 1 guitar, and 1 vihuela. Complete mariachi groups have a minimum of 12 members with the standard 6 violins, 3 trumpets, 1 guitarrón, 1 guitar and 1 vihuela. A 13th member is often a harp, an extra violin, or an extra guitar. The Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán currently has fourteen members, distributed as follows.
- Violins: Carlos Martínez (2014), Daniel Martinez (1985), Andres Gonzalez (2007), Oscar Ortega (2017), Roberto Lopez (2018), Angel Lopez (2018).
- Trumpets: Gustavo Alvarado (1990), Luis Fernandez Velasquez (2008), Agustin Sandoval (2019), Alejandro Aguilar (2010)
- Guitarrón: Enrique de Santiago (1989)
- Guitar: Arturo Vargas (2002), Jonathan Palomar (2017)
- Vihuela: Gilberto Aguirre (2013)
- Harp: Victor Alvarez (2018)
Former Members
- Violins: Alberto Alfaro, Manuel Vargas, Jose Martinez, Jose Martinez Jr., Miguel Angel Barron, Osvaldo Mendoza, Ruben Fuentes, Steeven Sandoval, Mario de Santiago, Juan Manuel Viurquiz, Salvador Torres, Heriberto Molina, Juan Pinzon, Jesus Rodriguez de Huizar, Nicolas Torres
- Trumpets: Federico Torres, Rigoberto Mercado, Alejandro Aguilar
- Guitarrón: Naty de Santiago
- Guitar: Rafael Palomar, Manuel Godina
- Vihuela: Victor Cardenas
- Harp: Julio Martinez, Arturo Mendoza
History
The history of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán is divided into five phases (or generations); the first generation from 1897 to 1930, the second from 1931 to 1949, the third from 1950 to 1993, the fourth from 1994 to 2002 and the fifth since 2003 to date.
1st generation (1897–1930)
The Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán was born in a small city called
2nd generation (1931–1949)
In 1931 Gaspar Vargas turned the leadership of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán over to his son, Silvestre. As the first step in his reorganization Silvestre decided to enlarge the group to eight musicians. He invited his compatriots, the Quintero brothers, Rafael and Jeronimo to join. One played a violin and the other a guitar. Later he would add another violin played by Santiago Torres. He moved Trinidad Olivera from the violin to the guitarron, although still preserving the wooden harp. It was Silvestre who possessed a dream that his group would one day be the greatest mariachi in all Mexico and he was relentless in his pursuit of fulfilling that dream. The Mariachi Vargas was something of an oddity in the early 1930s; the members were all dressed in charro suits, they showed up on time for performances, and they were sober.
Mexico City
In 1933 they won first place in a Mariachi contest celebrated in Guadalajara. Then again, in Mexico City, in 1934, they were awarded another first place prize. President Lázaro Cárdenas, who enjoyed the music of "Vargas", subsequently had the group hired as the official mariachi of the Mexico City Police Department and the group moved to Mexico City where they remained for 20 years. They provided music and entertainment for the capital city at its parks and gardens. Beginning in 1937, the Mariachi Vargas appeared in "Asi es mi Tierra", the first of its more than 200 motion pictures. They played in many of Pedro Infante's movies as well. In that same year they recorded their first record and signed an exclusive contract with RCA.
Addition of the trumpet and violin
In 1941, the group definitively integrated the trumpet into their musical interpretations. Miguel Martínez Domínguez was the first trumpet player for Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán; he is considered the creator of the mariachi-style trumpet as well as its best performer, teacher, and exemplar. In 1944, Rubén Fuentes, a classical violinist with no background in mariachi music, was asked by Silvestre to join the group. Fuentes joined as a violinist and took over as music arranger. Silvestre Vargas and Ruben Fuentes reorganized Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán and changed the group's sound. To overcome the unsavory connotations that the term "mariachis" had for the public in those days, the two leaders also updated the group's image by demanding professional presentation.
3rd generation (1950–1993)
Unifying the sound
Fuentes took complete responsibility for the group's musical direction, and enriched the evolution that for many years had conserved the primitive and unstudied qualities of mariachi. The changing sound of the Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán was redirected without the abandonment of its roots or traditions. The
Revolutionary new harmony
In 1955 Rubén Fuentes stopped performing in the group. However, to date he maintains his position as producer, musical arranger and musical director, assisted during this first age by Jesús Rodríguez de Hijar and, under both, the administrative and leadership skills of Silvestre Vargas. In 1966 Rubén Fuentes wrote "La Bikina", a song that was recognized as the epitome of this Revolutionary New Harmony and sound of the mariachi. He continues to write and produce music for Mariachi Vargas that takes is an emotional roller coaster from the height of happiness to the despair of a broken heart or a lost love. As much in Mexico as in foreign countries the Sones and Huapangos acquire new directions.
Mariachi conferences
In the 1970s interest in mariachi music was waning. But all that changed when
Linda Ronstadt
In 1986,
Classical mariachi
In 1989, the Mariachi Vargas released their "En Concierto" CD featuring some of the greatest renderings of classical music ever played by a mariachi group. They also accompanied
4th generation (1994–2002)
It is known by all mariachi lovers that this generation was the most talented group of musicians performing since 100 years of their foundation.[citation needed] In their album "La fiesta del Mariachi", Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, fourth generation, the group integrates to make a tribute to Jose "Pepe" Martínez, who besides his magnificent musical arrangements and direction of the group, inspired many as a composer. Their recordings on Polygram with this generation include are, "El Mariachi Vargas", "En Concierto", "Los sones Reyes", "La fiesta del Mariachi" and "50 anniversary of Rubén Fuentes". Rubén Fuentes's arrangements and music with the Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán are the first five recordings for the one-hundredth anniversary of the foundation of "Vargas" in 1997.
5th generation (2003–present)
In 2003 Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán began its fifth generation. Their latest recordings are, "5ta Generacion", "Sinfonico I", "Sinfonico II", and "Penas, Desengaños... Y Amores". Today the group is composed of one harp, one vihuela, one guitar, one guitarron, three trumpets and six violins. With the added instruments, a new sound has emerged that crosses all international borders. The music they play now ranges from the traditional sones to classical works as well as popurris that continue to delight audiences everywhere. In the 100 years since its foundation, the group has gone through some major changes. While there has been some departure from the tradition during that time, the group has maintained its roots through the playing of traditional Mexican sones. In 1997, "Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán" celebrated its first One Hundred years of foundation. One of the most popular writers was Mario Vargas.
Discography
From 1937 until now (2009), the Mariachi Vargas has produced over 50 recordings, whose contents are Huastecos sones, waltzes, popurris, polkas, huapango, cumbias, among others.
- Danzones (1964 RCA)
- Mariachi *Colección Original (BMG Latin, 1999) –This is a recording recompilation made while 1958–1968 -.
- Lo Mejor de lo Mejor (BMG Latin, 2000) –This is a recording recompilation made while 1958–1967 -.
- Tradicionales de México Lindo Y Querido (LIDERES, 2001).
- Sinfónico With Orquesta Filarmónica del Estado de Querétaro (2001) –Directed by Maestro José Guadalupe Flores-.
- 5ta. Generación (2002).
- Sinfónico II With Orquesta Filarmónica del Estado de Querétaro (2002) Directed by Maestro José Guadalupe Flores-.
- Penas, Desengaños Y Amores (2004).
- Y aquí estamos (2008).
References
- ^ a b "Mariachi Tradition". Mariachi4u.com. Retrieved 2015-03-09.
- ^ [1] Archived February 20, 2010, at the Wayback Machine