Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán

If you think all there is to mariachi is that guy in the sombrero singing beside your table at a Mexican restaurant then you’ve obviously never heard Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán.

The group that’s been called “el major mariachi del mundo” (the greatest mariachi in the world) performs Friday night at Hill Auditorium, courtesy of the University Musical Society.

Now based in Mexico City, Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán traces its roots back 113 years and five generations. It consists of two harps, one vihuela, one guitar, one guitarron, two trumpets and six violins.

Even someone who is not familiar with mariachi music can come to the concert and enjoy it, said Jose “Pepe” Martinez Sr., the group’s music director, who spoke with AnnArbor.com from Mexico City recently.

“I will make it so everyone will have a great time,” he promised. “We’ve played in places where mariachi is never performed and people leave very surprised. They have a great time because the music is very magical and Mariachi Vargas is very magical.”

Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán was founded in a small city near Jalisco, Mexico, by Don Gaspar Vargas in the late 1890s. The group’s history can be divided into five phases: the first generation from 1897-1930, the second from 1931-1949, the third from 1950-1993, the fourth from 1994-2002 and the fifth since 2003.

With more than 50 albums to its credit, Mariachi Vargas was featured on Linda Ronstadt’s 1987 double‐platinum Grammy Award‐winning album “Canciones de mi Padre (Songs of My Father),” her first Spanish release.

Martinez, who joined the group in 1935, said membership in Mariachi Vargas is pretty much a career commitment. One member, Victor Cardenas, is marking his 50th year with the group. Martinez's son, Jose Martinez Jr., has been with the group for 18 years, working side by side with his dad, mixing and writing music.

Martinez said the program will offer a little bit of everything — romantic ballads, sones, boleros and classical instrumental pieces. The familiar “Guadalajara”and “La Negra,” as well as “El Pastor,” the poignant story of a shepherd singing about his life, will likely be on the bill, with the latter song’s challenging falsetto parts sung by vocalist Arturo Vargas.

“Revolucionario,” a potpourri of songs that celebrate Mexico’s independence from Spain 100 years ago, is also on the bill.

“(“Revolucionario”) is very emotional for everyone; it’s very Mexican,” Martinez said. “Some parts are very sad — you leave your wife behind to go fight in the revolution (and) a lot of those men might not come back. It has some romantic pieces, some happy pieces, like ‘Viva Mexico,’ which is upbeat and festive.”

One work that won’t be performed in Ann Arbor has Martinez excited nonetheless. The Houston Opera has commissioned him to write the music for the first ever mariachi opera, which will be performed in Texas one week after the Ann Arbor show.

Martinez said the opera is “very Mexican, very traditional … representing families who came to the U.S. from Mexico. It has to do with the challenges people had to go through when coming to the U.S. — crossing the river, maybe dying in their attempt. It’s a very emotional, beautiful story … they do suffer losses but they are happy because they are with their family.”

The group is not allowed to play any of the music until after its debut, Martinez explained.

The appeal of Mariachi Vargas is multi-generational, with middle-aged people often attending with their children or parents. “Even though the group has been around along time a lot of the members are still young,” said Martinez. “Younger people can relate to them. The whole group is charismatic and young and fun, so people of all ages are attracted to that.”

Oh and one last thing — feel free bring your Sharpies and camera phones for after the show.

“We like to interact with the audience,” said Martinez. “We like to give them what they want. We are very willing to be available for autographs and pictures.”


Roger LeLievre is a free-lance writer who covers music for AnnArbor.com.