A minimum mariachi group has 2 violins, 2 trumpets, 1 guitarrón, 1 guitar, and 1 vihuela. Complete mariachi groups have a minimum of 12 members with the standard 6 violins, 3 trumpets, 1 guitarrón, 1 guitar and 1 vihuela. A 13th member is often a harp, an extra violin, or an extra guitar. The Vargas de Tecalitlán currently has thirteen members, distributed as follows:
Violins: Manuel Alcaraz Vargas, Alberto Alfaro, José "Pepe" Martínez (Director), José Martínez Jr., Daniel Martínez, and Andres Gonzalez
Trumpets: Federico Torres (member since 1966), Gustavo Alvarado (since 1991), and Fernando Valasquez (since 2007)
Guitarrón: Enrique de Santiago (member of the group since 1989)
Guitar: Arturo Vargas (member of the group since 2003 and originating in Jalisco)
Vihuela: Gilberto aguirre (part of the group since 2011, being the newest member of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán)
Harp: Julio Martínez (member since 1996)
The history of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán is divided into five phases (or generations); the first generation from 1897 to 1930, the second from 1931 to 1949, the third from 1950 to 1993, the fourth from 1994 to 2002 and the fifth since 2003 to date.
1st generation (1897–1930)
The Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán was born in a small city called Tecalitlán, to the south of Jalisco. Founded in 1897 by Don Gaspar Vargas the formation during those years was provided by the guitarra de golpe (or mariachera) played precisely by Don Gaspar, the wooden harp by Manuel Mendoza, and two violins played by Lino Quintero and Refugio Hernandez. The combination of these instruments established the "Sonido Tecalitlán" which distinguished from the "Sonido Cocula". (The Mariachi from Cocula utilized the guitarron and the vihuela in place of the harp and the guitarra de golpe aside from the two violins). In 1913, Don Gaspar introduced one trumpet to the group but it was not well accepted and, in later performances, its high-pitched sound was considered annoying. The cornet was replaced by another violin. The group consisted then of five elements. The son of Don Gaspar Vargas, Silvestre Vargas, joined as a violinist in 1921. From 1926 the group consisted of Gaspar Vargas - Guitarra de golpe, Manuel Mendoza - Harp, Silvestre Vargas, Trinidad Olivera and Nicolas Torres - Violins.
2nd generation (1931–1949)
In 1931 Gaspar Vargas turned the leadership of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán over to his son, Silvestre. As the first step in his reorganization Silvestre decided to enlarge the group to eight musicians. He invited his compatriots, the Quintero brothers, Rafael and Jeronimo to join. One played a violin and the other a guitar. Later he would add another violin played by Santiago Torres. He moved Trinidad Olivera from the violin to the guitarron, although still preserving the wooden harp. It was Silvestre who possessed a dream that his group would one day be the greatest mariachi in all Mexico and he was relentless in his pursuit of fulfilling that dream. The Mariachi Vargas was something of an oddity in the early 1930s; the members were all dressed in charro suits, they showed up on time for performances, and they were sober.
In 1933 they won first place in a Mariachi contest celebrated in Guadalajara. Then again, in Mexico City, in 1934, they were awarded another first place prize. President Lázaro Cárdenas, who enjoyed the music of "Vargas", subsequently had the group hired as the official mariachi of the Mexico City Police Department and the group moved to Mexico City where they remained for 20 years. They provided music and entertainment for the capital city at its parks and gardens. Beginning in 1937, the Mariachi Vargas appeared in "Asi es mi Tierra", the first of its more than 200 motion pictures. They played in many of Pedro Infante's movies as well. In that same year they recorded their first record and signed an exclusive contract with RCA.
In 1941 they definitively integrated the trumpet into the musical interpretations of the group. Miguel Martínez was the first trumpet player for Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán. He is considered the creator of the mariachi-style trumpet and the best performer, teacher and example of the instrument. In 1944, Rubén Fuentes, a classical violinist with no background in mariachi music, was asked by Silvestre to join the group. He joined as a violinist and became music adjuster. Silvestre Vargas and Ruben Fuentas reorganized Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán and changed their image and sound. They demanded a professional presentation to overcome the unruly concept that the term "mariachis" had to the general public in those days.
3rd Generation (1950–1993)
Fuentes took complete responsibility for the group's musical direction, and enriched the evolution that for many years had conserved the primitive and unstudied qualities of mariachi. The changing sound of the Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán was redirected without the abandonment of its roots or traditions. The Huapangos and Sones (which were two very distinctive styles of the mariachi music) were being interpreted in many diverse and different ways. The Mariachi Vargas recorded the Sones with arrangements and adaptations as patterns for other groups. This stratagem promoted the concept that all mariachi groups could be unified to those versions by taking them as examples. The traditional songs and the original sound of the mariachi began to mature in the 1950s. It was during the recordings of the "Golden Age of the Huapangos" that the compositions, arrangements and musical direction of Rubén Fuentes, and the unequaled voice of Miguel Aceves Mejía, initiated a musical shift that would change the sound and instrumentation of the mariachi. Due to the fact they change mariachi from the start they choose to keep it in away that it would still be traditional.
Revolutionary new harmony
In 1955 Rubén Fuentes stopped performing in the group. However, to date he maintains his position as producer, musical arranger and musical director, assisted during this first age by Jesús Rodríguez de Hijar and, under both, the administrative and leadership skills of Silvestre Vargas. In 1966 Rubén Fuentes wrote "La Bikina", a song that was recognized as the epitome of this Revolutionary New Harmony and sound of the mariachi. He continues to write and produce music for Mariachi Vargas that takes is an emotional roller coaster from the height of happiness to the despair of a broken heart or a lost love. As much in Mexico as in foreign countries the Sones and Huapangos acquire new directions.
Mariachi conferences
In the 1970s interest in mariachi music was waning. But all that changed when San Antonio, Texas held its first international mariachi conference in September 1979. In 1975, Jose "Pepe" Martinez, Sr. became the musical director of Mariachi Vargas. He wrote many arrangements including "Violin Huapango" which individually showcase the different instruments and members in the group. In 1983, the Mariachi Vargas appeared for the first time at the Tucson International Mariachi Conference. A new movement began to grow and many other conferences began to develop. The Mariachi Vargas was often chosen as the headline performer.
In 1986, Linda Ronstadt appeared with the Mariachi Vargas at the Tucson International Mariachi Conference where she sang publicly in Spanish for the first time. In 1987 she released her "Canciones de mi Padre" album featuring Mariachi Vargas which won her a Grammy award for the album. She also went on a national tour with the group, giving greater international exposure to mariachi music than ever before and creating a new audience for mariachi music among non-Hispanics.
Classical mariachi
In 1989, the Mariachi Vargas released their "En Concierto" CD featuring some of the greatest renderings of classical music ever played by a mariachi group. They also accompanied Lucero in the 1990s as she rose in the ranks of contemporary musical stardom. The Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán initiated a series of solo recordings: Sones, Valses, Pasos Dobles, Bailes Regionales, Polkas, Clasico e International, etc. They have added more than 50 recordings of mariachi music interpreted by what has become "The Best Mariachi in the World."
4th generation (1994–2002)
It is known by all mariachi lovers that this generation was the most talented group of musicians performing since 100 years of their foundation.[citation needed] In their album "La fiesta del Mariachi", Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, fourth generation, the group integrates to make a tribute to Jose "Pepe" Martínez, who besides his magnificent musical arrangements and direction of the group, inspired many as a composer. Their recordings on Polygram with this generation include are, "El Mariachi Vargas", "En Concierto", "Los sones Reyes", "La fiesta del Mariachi" and "50 anniversary of Rubén Fuentes". Rubén Fuentes's arrangements and music with the Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán are the first five recordings for the one-hundredth anniversary of the foundation of "Vargas" in 1997.
5th generation (2003–present)
In 2003 Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán began its fifth generation. Their latest recordings are, "5ta Generacion", "Sinfonico I", "Sinfonico II", and "Penas, Desengaños... Y Amores". Today the group is composed of two harps, one vihuela, one guitar, one guitarron, three trumpets and six violins. With the added instruments, a new sound has emerged that crosses all international borders. The music they play now ranges from the traditional sones to classical works as well as popurris that continue to delight audiences everywhere. In the 100 years since its foundation, the group has gone through some major changes. While there has been some departure from the tradition during that time, the group has maintained its roots through the playing of traditional Mexican sones. In 1997, "Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán" celebrated its first One Hundred years of foundation.
Discography
From 1937 until now (2009), the Mariachi Vargas has produced over 50 recordings, whose contents are Huastecos sones, waltzes, popurris, polkas, huapango, cumbias, among others.
Danzones (1964 RCA)
Mariachi *Colección Original (BMG Latin, 1999) –This is a recording recompilation made while 1958–1968 -.
Lo Mejor de lo Mejor (BMG Latin, 2000) –This is a recording recompilation made while 1958–1967 -.
Tradicionales de México Lindo Y Querido (LIDERES, 2001).
Sinfónico With Orquesta Filarmónica del Estado de Querétaro (2001) –Directed by Maestro José Guadalupe Flores-.
5ta. Generación (2002).
Sinfónico II With Orquesta Filarmónica del Estado de Querétaro (2002) Directed by Maestro José Guadalupe Flores-.
Penas, Desengaños Y Amores (2004).
Y aquí estamos (2008).
José Alfredo Enamorado
Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dame un poco de ti, te lo estoy suplicando
Este amor sin igual
No se puede acabar si lo dejas llorando
Yo te pienso querer
Más bonito que ayer y por toda la vida
Yo te voy a enseñar
Esta noche de amor
Yo seré para ti lo que tanto has soñado
Esta noche de amor
Tu seras para mi lo que nunca he encontrado
No te vayas así
Dame un poco de ti, te lo estoy suplicando
Este amor sin igual
No se puede acabar si lo dejas llorando
No te vayas así dame un poco de ti
Pídele a Dios, que no te haga llorar allá donde te fuiste
Pídele a Dios que no te haga infeliz, que no te vuelva triste
Yo ya te perdone, y él te va a perdonar, tranquilamente
Yo te quiero mirar, viviendo en un altar una vida decente
Pídele a Dios que nunca, nunca, te abandone
Pídele a Dios, que siempre, siempre, te perdone
Que te encuentres al fin, en este mundo cruel, la vida soñada
Que yo te oiga reír, aunque ya para ti, no valga nada
Pídele a Dios, pídele a Dios
Yo quisiera decirte que te quiero
Como nadie en la vida lo haya dicho
Voy a buscar palabras en el cielo
De las que dice Dios, allá en el infinito
Yo quisiera abrazarte de otro modo
Y entregarte un amor desconocido
Yo quisiera besarte no se como
Y despertar en ti, tu amor que es tan bonito
Has de hallar en mis ojos la tristeza
De no haberte encontrado desde niño
Siempre tuve mi nombre en mi cabeza
Será porque nací, pensando en tu cariño
Yo quisiera decirte que te quiero
Como nadie en la vida lo haya dicho
Voy a buscar palabras en el cielo
De las que dice Dios, allá en el infinito
Aunque quisiera yo
No puedo comprender
No sé, no me lo explico
Busqué la estrella más bonita
Del cielo de Jalisco
Y te la di una vez
Que te arrullé al vaivén
Del lago de Chapala
Mientras la luna azul
Nos envolvía en su luz
Y se metía en el agua
Por tu tremendo amor
Yo ya podía esperar
La muerte entre tus brazos
Sentí que poco a poco el cielo
Se me caía en pedazos
Y te miré temblar
Y se quebró tu voz
Un tanto apasionada
Y te entregué mi amor
Como se da el amor
Sin preguntarte nada
Ojalá que te vaya bonito
Ojalá que se acaben tus penas
Que te digan que yo ya no existo
Que conozcas personas más buenas
Que te den lo que no pude darte
Aunque yo te haya dado de todo
Nunca más volveré a molestarte
Te adoré, te perdí ya ni modo
Cuántas cosas quedaron prendidas
Hasta dentro del fondo de mi alma
Cuántas luces dejaste encendidas
Yo no sé como voy a apagarlas
Cuántas cosas quedaron prendidas
Hasta dentro del fondo de mi alma
Cuántas luces dejaste encendidas
Yo no sé como voy a apagarlas
Ojalá que te vaya bonito
The lyrics to Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán's song José Alfredo Enamorado express a plea to a lover not to leave and to give a little bit of themselves to save their extraordinary love. The singer wants to show the lover how to love and make them understand that they can't end this special love by leaving. The chorus repeats the plea to not go, and instead, spend the night experiencing an unforgettable love. The second verse asks the lover to pray to God to not let them cry or be miserable and that they deserve a happy life. The verse also forgives the lover and wishes for them to live a decent life. The final verse expresses a longing to tell the lover how much they love them in a way that has never been said before, with words from God in the heavens. The song ends with the hope that everything turns out well for the lover.
The lyrics of the song express intense longing and feeling. The singer's voice is desperate and wants to save their love. The song has multiple verses, and each one expresses the singer's heartache and deep love for the lover. The song is sang by the famous music group Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, known for their traditional Mexican mariachi music. Interestingly, the song captures the essence of mariachi music: a blend of vocal harmonies and traditional instruments, such as the trumpet, guitar, and violin.
Line by Line Meaning
No te vayas así
Don't go like that
Dame un poco de ti, te lo estoy suplicando
Give me a little of you, I'm begging you
Este amor sin igual
This unparalleled love
No se puede acabar si lo dejas llorando
It can't end if you leave it crying
Yo te pienso querer
I'm going to love you
Más bonito que ayer y por toda la vida
More beautifully than yesterday and for the rest of our lives
Yo te voy a enseñar
I will teach you
Como debes amar cuando todo se olvida
How to love when everything else is forgotten
Esta noche de amor
This night of love
Yo seré para ti lo que tanto has soñado
I will be for you what you have dreamed of
Tu seras para mi lo que nunca he encontrado
You will be for me what I have never found
Pídele a Dios, que no te haga llorar allá donde te fuiste
Ask God not to make you cry wherever you go
Pídele a Dios que no te haga infeliz, que no te vuelva triste
Ask God not to make you unhappy or sad
Yo ya te perdone, y él te va a perdonar, tranquilamente
I already forgave you, and he will forgive you too, calmly
Yo te quiero mirar, viviendo en un altar una vida decente
I want to see you living a decent life
Pídele a Dios que nunca, nunca, te abandone
Ask God to never, ever leave you
Pídele a Dios, que siempre, siempre, te perdone
Ask God to always, always forgive you
Que te encuentres al fin, en este mundo cruel, la vida soñada
That you finally find the dreamed-of life in this cruel world
Que yo te oiga reír, aunque ya para ti, no valga nada
That I hear you laugh, even if it means nothing to you anymore
Yo quisiera decirte que te quiero
I wish I could tell you I love you
Como nadie en la vida lo haya dicho
Like no one else in life has ever said it
Voy a buscar palabras en el cielo
I'm going to search for words in the sky
De las que dice Dios, allá en el infinito
Of the ones God speaks, up there in infinity
Has de hallar en mis ojos la tristeza
You will find the sadness in my eyes
De no haberte encontrado desde niño
Of not having found you since childhood
Siempre tuve mi nombre en mi cabeza
I always had your name in my head
Será porque nací, pensando en tu cariño
Maybe because I was born, thinking of your affection
Aunque quisiera yo
Although I would like to
No puedo comprender
I can't understand
No sé, no me lo explico
I don't know, I can't explain it to myself
Busqué la estrella más bonita
I searched for the most beautiful star
Del cielo de Jalisco
In the sky of Jalisco
Y te la di una vez
And I gave it to you once
Que te arrullé al vaivén
That I lulled you to sleep while swaying
Del lago de Chapala
From Lake Chapala
Mientras la luna azul
While the blue moon
Nos envolvía en su luz
Enveloped us in its light
Y se metía en el agua
And it went into the water
Por tu tremendo amor
Because of your tremendous love
Yo ya podía esperar
I could already wait
La muerte entre tus brazos
Death in your arms
Sentí que poco a poco el cielo
I felt that little by little the sky
Se me caía en pedazos
Was falling to pieces on me
Y te miré temblar
And I saw you trembling
Y se quebró tu voz
And your voice broke
Un tanto apasionada
Somewhat passionate
Y te entregué mi amor
And I gave you my love
Como se da el amor
As love is given
Sin preguntarte nada
Without asking you anything
Ojalá que te vaya bonito
I hope everything goes well for you
Que te digan que yo ya no existo
That they tell you I no longer exist
Que conozcas personas más buenas
That you meet better people
Que te den lo que no pude darte
That they give you what I couldn't
Aunque yo te haya dado de todo
Although I gave you everything
Nunca más volveré a molestarte
I will never bother you again
Te adoré, te perdí ya ni modo
I adored you, I lost you, there's nothing to be done
Cuántas cosas quedaron prendidas
How many things remain fixed
Hasta dentro del fondo de mi alma
Even in the deepest part of my soul
Cuántas luces dejaste encendidas
How many lights you left on
Yo no sé como voy a apagarlas
I don't know how I'm going to turn them off
Contributed by Nolan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gildardo Nuñez
on El Suchil
para todos mis amigos del facebook, dis fruten de musica de un buen mariachi, aqui lo tienen¡¡¡