Music in World Cultures. Mexican Mariachi : Assignment includes book report on Jeff Nevin's Virtuoso Mariachi (2002)

Document from the year 2004 in the subject Musicology, grade: passed, University of Bergen (Grieg Academy - Department of Music), course: Music in World Cultures, 11 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Concert report on a Spanish percussion group La Banda Del Surdo from 2004. Traditional Mexican music is a regional phenomenon and typical local instruments are characteristic for several ensembles and also important to distinguish the musical sound and the style. There are different groups from different areas.The mariachi ensemble has its roots in Jalisco - a western state of Mexico - and is also centered in the neighbouring states like Colima, Nayarit, Michoacán and Guerrero. The name "mariachi" refers to a Mexican musical group. The repertoire of a mariachi ensemble is known in Mexico as sones which are dances and strophic songs with refrains and a special underlying rhythm that is called "sesquialtera". Virtuoso Mariachi: The topic of this academic book refers to the genre of Mexican mariachi including history, performance and current developments of this traditional music. Jeff Nevin is a first-hand researcher in this field and this is his first scientific paper and the first major book considering technique and style in mariachi music, especially that of the trumpet. He has an educational background both in music theory, composition and in performance as an arranger and classical and mariachi trumpet player as mentioned on the last page of his book.