Song Analysis: Mariachi Fuego

The band that performed for us was UIC’s very talented Mariachi band, Mariachi Fuego. Mariachi Fuego consists of gifted musician students from the University of Illinois at Chicago. They are directed by Michael Spinoza. The instruments that the band used were really similar to other mariachi bands. For example, I think the students used the jarana, cello, vihuela which is a small guitar with 5 frets, guitar and violin, trumpet as instruments for the songs they performed. The first song that the band played for us was Fiesta en Jalisco which is a medley. The tempo was both fast and slow. When just the instruments were playing it was fast at the beginning, but when they were singing it was a slow pace. The song was both at times cheerful and
The first song of these waltz songs that they played was Alejandra. Although, I don’t the language, I feel like the song is about them loving Alejandra. The song was slow at first, but the speed also picked up at certain parts. The song was really smooth. It was also very sophisticated where this song could be used to dance at the ball with a loved one. The students played on the violin, trumpet and guitar for this song. El Rey which is also a waltz was played next by Mariachi Fuego which is by the great Jose Alfredo Jimenez. The song was a bit a faster than Alejandra, but they also slowed down to the pace of Alejandra. I liked the laughing part at the beginning of the song. This song was very passionate. Also, this song could be danced seriously to like at the ball. The last of the three waltz songs which was also by Jose Alfredo Jimenez was Camino de Guanajuato. It was also slow and serious like the other songs. The mood of the song was bit a more cheerful than the other two waltz songs in my opinion. The song consisted of the guitars and violin. Camino de Guanajuato was my favorite waltz song out of the three, because I felt the most connected to the
The shift showed the bands talent due to the waltz songs being a bit slow to the faster polka song. Certain parts of the song sounded like a chicken sounds from the plucking of the guitar, but it was really good sounds to my ear. The change from the chicken sounds to the next part was really interesting and cool. It sounded so precise and in total sync and it was one of my favorite songs that the band played. La malaguena was the second to last song the band played. It is a son Huasteco song which is music originated from northeastern Mexico. It is a slower song compared to Atotonilco. The beginning, middle and end of the song felt mystical which led to the smoothness of the song. The instruments used for this song were the guitars and violin. The mood was at times sad but also cheerful. Mariachi Fuego wrapped up the concert by playing Son de la Negra which has the son jalisciense style. Son jalisciense came from around the Veracruz region. The band incorporated the vihuela, guitarrón and violin with the singing. It was a cheerful and happy song. The song was mostly smooth with some rough parts. Again, there talent was shown when they played really quietly. It was an exciting song with really good