UE Upper Elementary and up | Performance Guide Mariachi Los Camperos Photo Credit: Ellwyn Kauffman Celebrate Cinco de May with one of the world’s greatest mariachis, Nati Cano. Mariachi Los Camperos is known around the world for its technical brilliance and musical nuance. With their richly operatic voices interwoven with the melodies of violins, the complex rhythms of guitar, vihuela, harp and the vivid brilliance of trumpets, Mariachi Los Camperos is mariachi at its very best. A classically trained violinist, Nati Cano began Ideas for Curriculum Connections his mariachi career at age 8 and is a recipient of the Sivestre Vargas CCSS: RL.3.2, 3, 6 and 9; RL.4.2, 3, 5, 7 and 9; award, the highest musical honor Mexico has for mariachi. Los Camperos RL.5. 2, 3, 5 and 7; W.3.3 and 8; W.4.8 and 9; de Nati Cano will present an unforgettable program that showcases W.5.8 and 9; SL.3.1c and d and 3; SL.4.1d and 4; Mexico’s most enduring sones and compelling canciones rancheras, SL.5.1c and d and 4; L.3.3; L.4.6 and L.5.3. country songs. The Performance Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano will present an program that Hundreds of schools host mariachi education programs and festivals. showcases Mexico’s most enduring songs and compelling canciones Mariachi music can be heard in concert halls, fiestas, restaurants and at rancheras, country songs. Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano presents the Walton Arts Center. Communities in Mexico and the United States a traditional mariachi ensemble, with rural roots in Jalisco, Mexico and hold annual mariachi festivals featuring local and international mariachi Los Angeles, California. Their music consists of trumpets, violins, the groups. Mariachi music is respected because of its cultural importance five-string vihuela, guitars, and guitarrón. The performers have as well as its driving blend of voice, brass and strings. produced eight albums and have won Grammy awards for Best Regional Mexican Album and Best Musical Album for Children. An opportunity The Artists for questions and answers will follow the performance. Natividad “Nati” Cano was born into a family of mariachi musicians in Jalisco, Mexico, one of the regions famous for the mariachi tradition. The Artform By the time he was eight years old he was playing professionally with his Musical ensembles know as mariachi originated in western Mexico, father and grandfather. His career took him to nearby Guadalajara, and during the 16th and 17th centuries. They featured stringed instruments then further away to Los Angeles. Cano formed the band while living brought from Spain. Contemporary mariachi base their music on the in Los Angeles in the 1960s. They emerged as a major force of the songs and rhythms of farmers, ranchers and jornaleros (laborers). mariachi music tradition in the United States. Mariachi preferred portable instruments like violins, guitars and small brass instruments. Since musicians walked through villages and Nati Cano was named the 1990 National Endowment for the Arts performed on foot, hand clapping and heel clicking took the place of Heritage Fellow, the United States’ highest honor in traditional arts. In drumming. Mariachi ensembles are a part of musical life in many 2006, he was named a United States Artist Rockefeller Fellow. Mariachi countries throughout the Americas. In the southwest United States Los Camperos tour the world sharing their music. They hope to many musicians carry on the mariachi traditions. encourage the next generation of mariachi musicians. Mariachi Los Camperos / Performance Guide Learning Activities Learning about Mariachi The Sound Take a Class Prepare to see the performance by Traditional mariachi consists of one or more In many communities “mariachi-in- researching mariachil instruments and trumpets with violins, guitars, vihuela and education” programs exist. Learn more on listening to samples of mariachi music. guitarrón. Other instruments may be added the websites listed on page 4. A growing During the performance, notice the to represent unique features of a region. number of mariachi festivals exist in the instrumentalists, the singers and the way Ensemble is important in mariachi. Nati southwestern states of the US and in the ensemble works together in unity and Cano teaches that a mariachi ensemble is Mexico. Students (estudientes) of mariachi harmony to express the art of mariachi. like a family. “When we sing in mariachi, learn by taking classes and listening and we become one. When we sing something following experienced mariachi performers. happy, that belongs to all of us.” It takes careful observing, listening and practicing to perform mariachi music. Mariachi Instruments Mariachi musicians traditionally play acoustic guitars, trumpets and violins. Nati Cano learned to play vihuela (a five-string guitar with concave back) as a child. The vihuela produces the bright rhythmic sound and supports the large guitarrón that provides the bass notes. The guitarra de son sounds like a classical guitar and supports the melody played by the vihuela. Guitarists use their instrument to make both percussive sounds and string sounds. Rhythm instruments might include pandero (tamborine) or the unique quijada (jawbone of horse or donkey, struck with the hand or scraped with stick.) Mariachi musicians play their instruments standing. They may walk from place to place when performing in restaurants or cantinas. If there is a soloist, the musicians listen respectfully and contribute to the rhythm with handclapping or vocal expressions of encouragement. Mariachi Singers “If you don’t sing and play, you are not a complete mariachi.” - Nati Cano A mariachi song is usually sung in Spanish or a native language of Western Mexico. Traditional songs are based on rural themes and poetic expressions of people’s hopes, sufferings and protests. Singers express deeply felt emotions in songs, for example: national pride, joyfulness, loneliness and loss. Listeners will hear Spanish, Mexican and Native American influences in mariachi songs. [email protected] / www.waltonartscenter.org Photo Credit:Amitava Sarkar Volume 11 Number 17 Colgate Classroom Series performances help students meet Common Core Standards. Reflect and Assess Photo credit: Amitava Sarkar Help students develop and expand their responses to music concerts. Learn more at: >Describe one performance of one song in as much detail as possible. www.waltonartscenter.org >Which instruments were used? >Describe the quality of voice. Who sang solo? When was ensemble important? > How was the song organized? Call and response? Solo lines? Walton Arts Center >What did you like most about the live performance? Costumes? Learning & Engagement Set? Props? Music? Laura Goodwin, Vice President >How did musical elements of tempo, pitch and dynamics in the music convey mood? Dr. Patricia Relph, Arts Learning Specialist >How did the music help build excitement during the performance? Katie Williams, Manager >Can you connect your own experience with any song in the performance? Shannon Rolle, Schools Concierge Learn More Online > See a song from their performance at the Smithsonian Institution. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUEnStCqdmM > An interactive mariachi activity. www.smithsonianglobalsound.org/archives_17.aspx > A mariachi musical activity. www.menc.org/connect/mariachi/english/main.html > Learn more mariachi resources and opportunities. http://musiced.nafme.org/mariachi/resources/ Walton Arts Center 2013-2014 Learning programming is generously supported by Education Benefactors: these funders, sponsors and benefactors: Ted and Leslie Belden Jerry and Brenda Walton J.B. and Rachel Blankenship Jim and Lynne Walton Colgate-Palmolive Education Grantors: Chip and Susan Chambers Dr. & Mrs. John B. Weiss General Mills Arkansas Arts Council Nick and Carolyn Cole JB Hunt Transport The John F. Kennedy Center Jon and Joanie Dyer Kimberly-Clark for the Performing Arts Murray and Judy Harris Season support provided by Murphy Consulting, Inc Walmart Foundation Malcolm and Ellen Hayward Walmart / SAM’S CLUB Nestle Rich and Kristin Kley Prairie Grove Telephone Co. Education Partners: Greg and Hannah Lee Arkansas Arts Council is an Shipley Motor Company Crystal Bridges Museum of Neal and Gina Pendergraft agency of the Department of Tyson Foods American Art Imelda and J.T. Rose Arkansas Heritage and the Unilever Northwest Arkansas Education Jeff and Eileen Schomburger National Endowment for the Walmart Foundation Service Cooperative Mechelle and Jack Sinclair Arts Kirk Thompson Mariachi Los Camperos / Performance Guide.