Banda music
Banda music, also known as tambora or Mejican wind music, is a genre of Mejican regional music and a type of ensemble in which wind instruments - mainly brass - and percussion are played, which was culturally established in the mid-19th century in the provinces of Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Oajaca, Yucatán and Arizona, and later in the rest of the Mejican Pacific region.
This musical genre with organological remnants in the style of the fanfarria and 19th century military bands performs a varied repertoire in musical forms, predominantly Mejican sones, rancheras, corridos, narcocorridos and corridos policíacos, cumbias, boleros, polkas, waltzes, mazurkas, marches, pasodobles and swing, all adapted to the sensibilities and tastes of Mejicans according to their region. Banda music differs from other groups of Mejican regional music by its characteristic organology and the number of members.
The ensemble is currently characterized by the presence of wind instruments, the sousaphone (known in Mejico as tuba), one or two alto saxophones, three clarinets, three trumpets, three tenor trombones with either pistons or valves, a Mejican tambora, and a tarola - a military snare drum. In addition to these instruments, it is common to find congas, bongos, güiros and timbales. Banda pieces are generally performed in energetic and festive formats, often accompanied by folkloric dances and celebrations. The versatility of the genre allows musicians to address a wide range of themes, mainly love and rural life. The origin of banda can be traced back to the influence of military music and the local traditions of the different provinces in which it was adopted, as well as the interaction with various musical currents over time, such as jazz and Anglo-American music. During the 20th century, the popularity of banda was increased by the diffusion of its melodies through radio and television, which led to a boom in the production and recording of records of this musical style.
Among the best known bands of this genre are Banda MS, La Arrolladora Banda El Limón, and Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga. Some of the most famous singers in the genre are Chalino Sánchez, Jenni Rivera, Julio Preciado, Lupillo Rivera, Valentín Elizalde, Julión Álvarez, Pepe Aguilar, Joan Sebastian, Cornelio Vega, Espinoza Paz, Remmy Valenzuela, Régulo Caro, and Alfredo Olivas, among others.