Norteno Music of Mexican Community - Essay Example

There are a lot of regional styles in Norteno music. Much regional Mexican music is entertained by radio and many Norteno artists also get popularity from the Mexican-American community. Local radio stations are the Proclamatory source in popularizing Norteno music. While exploring rural areas their way of entertainment people found that Norteno is originated from rural areas and also popular in urban areas. Norteno started to assemble by music lovers around the 1860s and become popular. (LAST FM) Mexico people listened to music deliberately from all over the world, by listening to all forms of music they produce their forms which they called traditional Mexican music which is modern music becomes popular with people of all ages and this Mexican traditional music is full of variety, style, colorful, passionate and derive from origins of Mexican culture; rich country.

(TRADITIONAL MEXICAN MUSIC) American accordionist introduces Norteno music in Texas. Tamaulipas and Tijuana derive from the Caribbean Norteno music. Saxophone is also used by different bands like Chihuahua and Zacatecas. Tejano or “Tex-Mex” is a new form of popular music derived from Norteno and influenced by swing and American Rock. Tejano includes English poetry and sounds like American Rock but Norteno came first and Ramon Ayala is based on the basics of Norteno music. Today Norteno music is popular because of Grupo Pesado who is the leader of Norteno music.

Musical instruments of different types with some new music styles introduced by Czech and Bohemian famous people like the accordion. This music style is combined with the present Norteno music style and this style is played by local bands. This is the start of the transformation and evolution of Norteno in which still accordion theme is present in it. The main instruments accordion and Bajo sexto distinguish Norteno. Rhythm is like a steady motion and the pace of this rhythm is middle (normal) or fasts tempo depending on the song’s type.

Double bass instruments and guitar is used in Norteno-type music. Two famous bands Banda and duranguense have only bass instruments instead of accordions and guitars. However, Banda and duranguense introduce and play the same songs as Norteno bands musicians played them have the same beat and music levels same as Norteno. Many of the bands were named Mexican states or a general description of geographical and they played “Regional Mexican Music”.(HISTORY OF MEXICAN MUSIC) Two major forms of Norteno music are Corridos and Narcocorridos.

Corridos entered the “Golden Age” in 1910-1920s where Mexican people play these Corridos at the border. Corridos are based on narrative songs in a poetry form and they depend on history, peasant’s daily life, and socially important, and legendary importance. Around the 1980s started Narcocorridos when Los Alegres de Teran sang a song about a Narco. Narcocorridos are the same as Corridos but are based on drug smugglers and cartels. Music critics also compared Narcocorridos to “Gangster rap”.

There are two types of Norteno which are Classical Norteno and Modern Norteno. Classical Norteno music becomes famous by very recognizable bands Ramon Ayala, Los Tigres Del Norte, and Los Tucanes de Tijuana. Modern Norteno has advanced features from the original “oldie” Norteno this type of Norteno was first played by Narciso Martinez and his groups related to Narciso before the 1950s. 

Modern percussion and Electric bass guitars are the instruments introduced in Norteno music in the 1970s and 1980s. Classical Norteno music instruments like traditional guitar and accordion style of classical bands Los Tigres Del Norte, into cable, Duelo, isac Esquivel, and Oro Norteno. Modernized Norteno carries the latest and modern instruments like guitar. The lead instrument, the Bajo sexto is the Old Norteno band's instrument; Modern Norteno usually includes a drum set, an electronic keyboard, and a saxophone included. And in modern Norteno mostly one accordion is used instead of two accordions. Some bands in Modern Norteno used two accordions which gives a faster Melody.

When the Latino American Community increased in the United States Norteno became more popular and famous in the 1990s and 2000s. In modern Mexican Music today Norteno is one of the most popular and famous Mexican music this music type is also gaining rapid popularity and is now famous in the United States like many famous Mexican bands like Ramon Ayala y sus Bravos del Norte, Into cable and Pesado are all famous in United States and having American Labels they get American nationality but from the origin, they are Mexican musicians and their albums, music usually produced, directed and recorded within the United States recording rooms in which Into Cable is a pure Tejano style. This trend propagates the rapid integration of Mexican American immigrant musicians into the United States.

There is a distinguishable Norteno feature in which accordion and Bajo sexto are used and they are the basics of Norteno music. It is a pure style of Mexican country music and it has more rural sounds in it. Artist like Ramon Ayala is older and his music sounds traditional while other musicians like Oro Norteno and Los Dueto Voces introduces a rowdier style and used the strongest beat. Norteno music is also noted as a Grito Mexicano because it which used a variety of guitar strings are used in it and play a vital role in a song.