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Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlán

Presented by MECA at Wortham Theater Center - Brown Theater

July 18, 2009

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MECA presents The Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán concert at the Wortham Theater Center-Brown Theater, Saturday, July 18.  Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, El Mejor Mariachi Del Mundo (Best Mariachi in the World), is an internationally-esteemed group of 13 musicians made up of some of the best voices and musicians in all of Latin America.

Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán is recognized internationally as the world’s greatest mariachi music ensemble. Mariachi Vargas has recorded more than 70 CDs since they were founded in 1897. They have been featured in over 200 films and music videos and have traveled the world performing in Spain, Canada, Japan and throughout the U.S. and Latin America. Their concert is an unforgettable experience that includes performances of traditional mariachi sones, huapangos, boleros, rancheras, ballads and classical pieces with instrumentation that includes 6 violins, 3 trumpets, 1 harp, 1 guitarron, 1 vihuela and 1 guitar.

Longstanding Mexican group Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan was formed in 1897 in the town of Tecalitlan by Gaspar Vargas, Manuel Mendoza, and by two violinists. In December of 1934, the group traveled to the capital of Mexico to be present at the induction ceremony of President Lazaro Cardenas, and acted as the city's official Mariachi band. Three years later, Mariachi Vargas appeared in Asi Es Mi Tierra (the first of almost 200 movies) and recorded their first record. Over the next 35 years, they recorded dozens of albums of pasodobles, valses, bailables, polkas, and danzones.

In 1973, the death of frequent contributor Jose Alfredo Jimenez, one of the greatest composer/vocalists of ranchera music, marked the end of an era. The band continued in its evolution, accompanying the vocalist and composer Juan Gabriel in his first recordings and introducing new and significant forms of expression in Mariachi music. In 1976, Pepe Martinez assumed the musical direction of Mariachi Vargas. Martinez' compositions display a mastery of rhythms and original arrangements that spotlights every musician in the group like a soloist, making the era around their centennial anniversary one of the group's strongest periods. ~ Zac Johnson, All Music Guide 

Visit www.mariachimusic.com for more information.