About the Music
“La Cigarra” was originally written for Mariachi ensemble in the rhythmically complex ‘Huapango’ style. Traditionally sung by female vocalists, it has been performed and recorded by some of the biggest names in Mariachi music, including Lola Beltran, Linda Ronstadt, Lila Downs and Natalia Jiménez. The inspiration for this arrangement was a Natalia Lafourcade recording from the ‘Bimexicanos’ compilation, released in 2010.
The title is a false cognate and translates to “the cicada” in English. Knowing that the cicada dies soon after its chirping is over; the lyrics are a plea from the singer to the chirping insect, “Ya no me cantes cigarra” (Don’t sing to me anymore, cicada). With beautifully dark imagery throughout, “Hay otro color más negro que el color de mis pesares” (There is another color blacker than the color of my sorrows), the singer ends by proclaiming, “Y quiero morir cantando como muere la cigarra” (And I want to die singing as the cicada dies).
There are technical and musical challenges presented in this arrangement. The 6/8 time-signature can be simplified for inexperienced students by providing the 8th note pulse and translating all note values, (eighth note = 1 beat, quarter note = 2 beats, dotted quarter = 3 beats, etc.). Once the reading becomes more fluent, you can introduce the ‘dotted-quarter’ pulse and describe the feel that it creates. The guitar 2 part sounds best when played as an arpeggio (level 6), but can be approached by a level 2 player in fixed finger position. Experiment with right-hand tone colors to create vertical contrast between parts or between sections of the music.
Classroom Activity
Although sometimes understood as a colorful and lively tradition, Mariachi music takes on many different identities, and represents an incredible range of styles, influences, and emotional content. To better understand the tradition, compare recordings or performances from some of the more traditional mariachi performers (Vicente Fernández, Lola Beltran, Rocío Dúrcal, Mariachi Vargas) with some of the newer performers, (Mariachi Flor de Toloache, Mariachi El Bronx). How is the tradition evolving?