(E) Croatian Mariachi Band on a festival next month in Guadalajara
Mariachi festival to be held next month in Guadalajara
Canadian Press August 19, 2004
GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) - The unmistakable blend of trumpets, guitars, violins and the human voice will fill Guadalajara when the annual International Mariachi and Charro Festival takes place Sept. 2 to 12.
Considered the city's most important cultural festival of the year, the event features a series of gala dinners, rodeo shows, concerts, music workshops and art exhibits. Two million spectators are expected. And the mariachi groups -more than 50 in all -come not just from Mexico, but from as far away as Japan,Croatia and Italy. The foreign groups all use traditional mariachi instruments -which include the Mexican folk harp -and they sing in Spanish. But they don't always know the meanings of the words.
All the musicians will take part in the grand parade held on Sept. 4 through the city streets.
Traditionally, mariachi music celebrates both joy and sorrow -weddings and birthdays as well as funerals and holidays. The charros -Mexican cowboys -will compete in a rodeo wearing traditional dress.
For more information on the festival, visit www.mariachi-jalisco.com.mx.
