"Composer and Community"
An Inter-Disciplinary Colloquium
Women Mariachi Musicians:
Creating an Audience and a Community
Cándida Jaquez
Folklore
Indiana University
Abstract:
Recent work with mariachi women professionals or web “jefas” (website creators) gives an overarching view of how women contend with historical and professional issues as well as cultural representation. Lyrical content has much to say as common themes include women as objects of desire, personified land or attributes related to homeland or regional identity, and archetypes that run the gamut from treacherous woman to sainted figure. In addition, performance practice highlights the prominent figure of the female cantante in mariachi through ranchera; every female mariachi who stands in front of an ensemble to sing a solo in some way addresses that figure.
As is the case with other national Latin American musics, there remain palpable tensions between national and diasporic communities. Key issues often surround ideas of musical ownership, authenticity and tradition. Interviews with multiple musicians at Plaza Garibaldi led to discussions about mariachi as a trans-national phenomenon across the U.S.-Mexico border. A telling example of these dynamics was a conversation at the San Antionio, Texas mariachi conference and workshops where the young cantante Nydia Rojas performed. One speaker, a Mexican national, insisted that she had to be mexicana, as in from Mexico, because she was just so good and understood the singing style. His companion replied, “I think she is from Los Angeles.” A spirited discussion ensued.
This paper will draw upon oral tradition and folkloric narrative to discuss how the cyber qualities of the non-linear, episodic, anecdotal, and non-corporeal engender mariachi women’s knowledge. The qualities of cyberspace in historical narrative provide an intriguing look at what new histories might mean for this medium. The creation of these mariachi websites links directly to the experiences of female mariachi professional life. An invitation to community and debate of mariachi’s practice and historical and social significance opens new paths for the representation of women in mariachi where the tradition and profession narrow for women elsewhere—expanding discussion for where the pulse of a diasporic tradition may lie.
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