ConjuntoConjunto

Music of the Southwester BorderMusic of the Southwester Border

Musical CharacteristicsMusical Characteristics

• Conjunto music is dance music.

• The dances include two-steps, polkas, waltzes and cumbias

• It is sung in Spanish

• The themes are often about love.

• Includes rancheros, and corridos

InstrumentationInstrumentation

• The bass or low notes are played with a bass guitar or tuba

• The accordion plays the melody

• Drums keep the beat so that people can dance to the music

• They use guitars and sometimes the bajo sexto, a traditional Mexican stringed instrument

History, Culture and OriginHistory, Culture and Origin

• Conjunto music, sometimes called Tex-Mex originated in the border towns of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.

• It was first performed in cantinas and at parties

• Early conjunto music was instruments music with not singing.

PioneersPioneersLydia Mendoza,

the first lady of Tejano:

Sang traditional Spanish

And Mexican folk songs Valerio Longoria, first conjunto accordion player to add drums and sing.

First to play the cumbia and other Latin styles to conjunto music

Current PerformersCurrent Performers

• Texas Tornados • Los Tigres del Norte

ReferencesReferences

Wikipedia, Los Tigres del Norte, retrieved at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Los_Tigres_del_Norte

The Roots of Tejano Music, retrieved at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/benson/border/arhoolie2/raices.html