The Development of Musica Norteña
By Cesar Alejandro Cardenas
Introduction
Introduction
La Musica Norteña is one of the most popular Mexican music genres both in
La Musica Norteña is one of the most popular Mexican music genres both in
Mexico and the United States mainly among the Mexican community.
Mexico and the United States mainly among the Mexican community.
The diatonic accordion and the bajo sexto define Musica Norteña also
The diatonic accordion and the bajo sexto define Musica Norteña also
known as Conjunto Norteño music.
known as Conjunto Norteño music.
One of the most important aspects of de development of this genre was the
One of the most important aspects of de development of this genre was the
socio-economical link between Monterrey Nuevo Leon, Mexico and Texas.
socio-economical link between Monterrey Nuevo Leon, Mexico and Texas.
The Origins
The Origins
 Musica Norteña is the result of a musical fusion between three cultures:
 Musica Norteña is the result of a musical fusion between three cultures:
Mexico, USA, and Europe.
Mexico, USA, and Europe.
 This musical genre had its origins along the Texas-Mexico borderlands
 This musical genre had its origins along the Texas-Mexico borderlands
during the second half of the nineteenth century.
during the second half of the nineteenth century.
 The accordion, which is considered to be the heart of Musica Norteña, was
 The accordion, which is considered to be the heart of Musica Norteña, was
evidently introduced by German immigrants into the Northern Mexico States
evidently introduced by German immigrants into the Northern Mexico States
as well as to South Texas sometime in the last half of the nineteenth century.
as well as to South Texas sometime in the last half of the nineteenth century.
 The Conjunto Norteño sound was born when both the accordion and bajo
 The Conjunto Norteño sound was born when both the accordion and bajo
sexto were paired together to form a New Mexican ensemble.
sexto were paired together to form a New Mexican ensemble.
The Pioneers
The Pioneers
Narciso Martinez was one of the first accordionist to record an album.
Narciso Martinez was one of the first accordionist to record an album.
Martinez began his commercial recording career in the mid 1930’s.
Martinez began his commercial recording career in the mid 1930’s.
 Another popular accordionist in the 1930’s and 1940’s was Santiago “El
 Another popular accordionist in the 1930’s and 1940’s was Santiago “El
flaco” Jimenez. His contribution was to incorporate the tololoche (contrabass)
flaco” Jimenez. His contribution was to incorporate the tololoche (contrabass)
to the conjunto norteño ensemble.
to the conjunto norteño ensemble.
 Valerio Longoria added two important elements to
 Valerio Longoria added two important elements to
the conjunto norteño: the drum set, and the “canción
the conjunto norteño: the drum set, and the “canción
ranchera”.
ranchera”.
Valerio Longoria
Instruments
Instruments
The Diatonic Accordion
The Diatonic Accordion
The diatonic accordion can have one to three rows of treble
The diatonic accordion can have one to three rows of treble
buttons on the right side.
buttons on the right side.
 The left-hand buttons produce low notes and
 The left-hand buttons produce low notes and
chords for the accompaniment while the right-hand
chords for the accompaniment while the right-hand
buttons play the melody.
buttons play the melody.
The Bajo Sexto
The Bajo Sexto
The bajo sexto is a twelve string instrument that provides
The bajo sexto is a twelve string instrument that provides
bass and chord accompaniment in a conjunto norteño.
bass and chord accompaniment in a conjunto norteño.
All the strings are arranged in pairs.
All the strings are arranged in pairs.
The first two pairs are tuned F and C (up a half step from
The first two pairs are tuned F and C (up a half step from
the standard guitar tuning), and the third pair is tuned G.
the standard guitar tuning), and the third pair is tuned G.
Pairs fourth, fifth and sixth are tuned like the guitar
Pairs fourth, fifth and sixth are tuned like the guitar
standard (D, A, and E) but one string of each pair is thicker
standard (D, A, and E) but one string of each pair is thicker
(similar to a bass string) and tuned an octave below.
(similar to a bass string) and tuned an octave below.
The Tololoche
The Tololoche
In the mid 1930’s Santiago “El flaco” Jimenez began to use the tololoche
In the mid 1930’s Santiago “El flaco” Jimenez began to use the tololoche
(contrabass) for the bass lines on his first recordings.
(contrabass) for the bass lines on his first recordings.
With the advent of amplification, the replacement of
With the advent of amplification, the replacement of
the contrabass was inevitable. Thus in the 1950’s, the
the contrabass was inevitable. Thus in the 1950’s, the
electric bass was incorporated into conjunto giving
electric bass was incorporated into conjunto giving
a more solid bass line.
a more solid bass line.
Drums
Drums
The first artist to make regular use of the traditional
The first artist to make regular use of the traditional
drum set was Valerio Longoria in 1948.
drum set was Valerio Longoria in 1948.
The incorporation of the drum set created a new
The incorporation of the drum set created a new
dimension, which altered the functionality of each
dimension, which altered the functionality of each
element on the ensemble.
element on the ensemble.
Song Forms
Song Forms
La Cansion Ranchera: The cansion Ranchera usually talks
La Cansion Ranchera: The cansion Ranchera usually talks
about abandoned men and unfaithful women. This type of song
about abandoned men and unfaithful women. This type of song
would often be performed by the 3/4 waltz-time beat or in the 2/4
would often be performed by the 3/4 waltz-time beat or in the 2/4
meter of a traditional polka rhythm.
meter of a traditional polka rhythm.
El Bolero: The bolero is a very sophisticated song form that
El Bolero: The bolero is a very sophisticated song form that
uses both poetic and elegant love lyrics. The bolero creates a
uses both poetic and elegant love lyrics. The bolero creates a
greater demand for musical knowledge of harmonization, rhythm
greater demand for musical knowledge of harmonization, rhythm
and vocal arrangements.
and vocal arrangements.
El Corrido: The corrido is a narrative ballad often sung in a fast
El Corrido: The corrido is a narrative ballad often sung in a fast
polka rhythm with a 2/4 time signature or in a waltz tempo with a
polka rhythm with a 2/4 time signature or in a waltz tempo with a
3/4 time signature. Like the traditional ranchera, corridos
3/4 time signature. Like the traditional ranchera, corridos
harmonization consists in the tonic, dominant and subdominant
harmonization consists in the tonic, dominant and subdominant
chords of the major scale.
chords of the major scale.
El Narco-Corrido: The narco-corrido is a corrido that talks
El Narco-Corrido: The narco-corrido is a corrido that talks
about drug smugglers’ adventures and victories against their
about drug smugglers’ adventures and victories against their
enemies.
enemies.
The evolution
The evolution
At the beginning of the 1950’s Norteño music was spread
At the beginning of the 1950’s Norteño music was spread
through radio and film industry.
through radio and film industry.
With the incorporation of the P.A. system amplification, musical
With the incorporation of the P.A. system amplification, musical
organization and arrangements on the ensemble were forced to be
organization and arrangements on the ensemble were forced to be
more precise.
more precise.
Los Relampagos del Norte revolutionized the Mexican
Los Relampagos del Norte revolutionized the Mexican
conjunto norteño style. They incorporated accordion introductions
conjunto norteño style. They incorporated accordion introductions
that lasted for two full verses of the song’s melody instead of
that lasted for two full verses of the song’s melody instead of
playing a short introductory phrase.
playing a short introductory phrase.
Conclusions
Conclusions
Musica Norteña or Conjunto Norteño music is a mixture of
Musica Norteña or Conjunto Norteño music is a mixture of
musical elements from three different cultures. The most important
musical elements from three different cultures. The most important
aspect of Musica Norteña’s development was the introduction of
aspect of Musica Norteña’s development was the introduction of
the accordion by German immigrants. Musica Norteña’s
the accordion by German immigrants. Musica Norteña’s
development has been through a lot of changes, but the core sound
development has been through a lot of changes, but the core sound
of the accordion and bajo sexto has always remained untouchable.
of the accordion and bajo sexto has always remained untouchable.