Overview
The music of contemporary Mexican American culture ranges in style from traditional Mexican styles such as norteño and mariachi, to hybrid forms that combine the polka/ranchera sound with country, rock and roll, and cumbia, to hip hop and rap styles. Often the term Tejano is used generally to indicate any of these styles that have developed in Texas. However, for our purposes, the term Tejano will be used more specifically to indicate a modern, expanded conjunto style (electrified bajo sexto, bass, accordion, drumset, synthesizer and additional instruments). Individual artists and bands from California, Arizona, and Texas have driven the innovation of new approaches to traditional music with a resultant diversity of material. The selected artists and genres in this chapter will include Little Joe y la Familia, Jimmy Gonzalez y Mazz, David Lee Garza y los Musicales, Patsy Torres, Linda Ronstadt, Los Lobos, and Selena.
Objectives
- Identify the instrumental ensembles and musical styles of La Onda Chicana, Mariachi, Tejano, Rock and Tejano/Cumbia aurally
- Recall the contributions and innovations of selected artists to Mexican American popular music
- Identify the following song/dance forms: polka, cumbia, son jarocho, son jalisciense
- Examine the cultural context that these ensembles, genres and forms originate from and understand them as part of an ongoing, bi-cultural musical expression
Conclusion
The world of Mexican American popular music continues to develop, expand, and move into new territory and has, since the mid-1990s, incorporated the sounds of hip hop, rap, and more. The period from the 1960s through the 1990s was a time of emerging identity of Mexican Americans in America, helped in large part through their musical footprint and evidenced by the increasing success in the commercial realm of Mexican American styles. As artists continue to innovate, they bring together the roots of their musical identity and experience with the larger picture of American music in unique ways.
As this course draws to a close, it is important to think about the number of musical styles and genres that we have seen develop during this course. We have examined many aspects of American popular music, such as ownership, musical style, ideas of authenticity, the role of record labels and corporations, the significance of songwriters, and how new technologies have changed the creation or promotion of music. In the 21st century, these concepts remain relevant even if the mediums change. In conclusion, it is worth thinking about how music communicates its messages. How do the instruments, effects, speed, and style affect how we understand what the musicians are trying to convey?
