Posted on 01/27/2008 11:39:44 AM PST by trumandogz
He is generations removed from Mexico and has never set foot in that country, yet 13-year-old Alex Solis has fallen in love with mariachi.
By singing the music and playing the flute, the Patrick Henry Middle School student learned tales of love and land that have been part of his family's culture for centuries.
"I can't live without mariachi," said the eighth-grader, who is half Hispanic and half Asian. "I don't know where my life would be right now without music."
Solis' passion is about to get its share of the limelight in Texas. The University Interscholastic League has agreed to recognize mariachi as a category in its music competitions, meaning that this time next year, Solis and his Patrick Henry classmates can compete for state bragging rights.
Adding a new musical category wasn't an easy decision for the UIL governing board, which worried about setting a precedent for other, lesser-known types of music. Still, they think mariachi will prove popular among the 500,000 Texas students who take part in music classes.
"The bottom line is, we thought this would have a lot of statewide attractiveness," said Richard Floyd, the state director of music for UIL.
Officials will meet in mid-February to iron out guidelines for the new category, which they expect will be especially popular in areas such as the Rio Grande Valley, El Paso and San Antonio.
Houston Independent School District leaders, who helped lobby for the change, say they hope it's one of the first steps Texas takes to encourage more Hispanic students to participate in art and academic competitions.
Creative competition
Currently, only about a dozen of HISD secondary schools compete in UIL music competitions, Floyd said. "Houston could be a very heavy hitter, probably one of the mainstays," said HISD trustee Manuel Rodriguez, a member of the Mexican-American School Board Members Association who petitioned for the addition of mariachi.
Competing in UIL-approved events will give students a chance at statewide recognition, more college application fodder and excused absences from school while they're competing.
Michael Fain, director of UIL activities for the Houston school district, said HISD plans to hold a districtwide mariachi championship May 10 to drum up interest in the music. He expects at least half a dozen schools to compete.
"There's enough interest where I think we can have a valid contest with just HISD students involved," Fain said. "And as word gets out that there's a contest and that this is now being recognized by UIL, there'll be a whole lot more opportunities created by schools. Before this year, there was no recognized reason to have a program, other than the community wanted it."
Fain said he's also pushing UIL to add academic events in Spanish.
HISD is piloting a bilingual speech competition to gauge interest in that event.
"The second I have any academic contest that's not offered in Spanish, I've left somebody at home," Fain said. "We don't know how far this will go, but at the minimum, we're creating opportunities that otherwise wouldn't be there."
Patrick Henry could be the school to beat at next year's UIL mariachi competition.
The six-year-old group routinely takes top honors at other contests. Students raise money and rely on neighborhood businesses to help foot part of the program's price tag, which is more than $15,000 a year.
"We just do well; they practice a lot, and they just really enjoy what they do," said math teacher Jose Longoria, who founded the school's mariachi band.
Staying focused
Learning the music helps the group of 20 students stay busy and motivates them to try harder in their other classes. Because this is a UIL event, students must pass their classes to participate. "It helps us stay on the right path," said Sabrina Rosas, 13, who plays the violin. "And it does teach you more about yourself and your history."
Longoria said he can't wait to sign his kids up for the first recognized competition, sometime during the next school year.
"It's a special recognition for the music of mariachi," he said.
throwing red meat to the lions.
Those eyes are windows of your soul.
Their glow fills my world with wonder.
They have turned my life asunder,
Reflecting beauty in your soul.
I dream that you would look my way
To see the hope that burns in my eyes,
love my own could never disguise
Telling all I want to say.
My dream goddess, how my heart’s lost.
For a kiss, I’d pay any cost.
For one kiss, I’d pay any cost.
My dream goddess , how my heart’s lost.
You’ve lit my life with a burning fire.
Radiant beauty how you beguile,
So innocent with your sweet smile.
You fill my heart with tender desire.
You fill my heart with tender desire.
May a poor man adore a beauty?
Some believe it cannot be.
I know that you could love me,
And find a world completely free.
I do have something to give you.
I hand you my tender heart.
I give you my loving heart.
It is yours for all my life through.
I am bewitched by your
great beauty.
Radiant angel how you beguile,
So innocent with your sweet smile.
You are all life, and heaven to me.
You are all life, and heaven to me
Mariachi will accomplish that same function
I hate so sound culturally insensitive here but this will decrease the rate of drug use and pregnancy among Hispanic youth in Texas.
I love mariachi. If there are a significant number of students in Texas who would like to be competitive mariachis (sounds a little weird :-), then why not give them the chance?
I was surprised to hear that sound in the desert SW!
L0L here is one from up home L0L Who stole the Kishka?
Placido Domingo es el mejor.
I can dig it. :)
Aint he Eyetalian? :0)
When I was working in San Antonio, we would sometimes have an employees’ mariachi group performing during lunch. Some of the diners would get up and dance when their favorite song was played.
I like Norteno Conjunto, too. Everybody polca!
LOL! He was born in Spain but brought up in Mexico, where his parents ran a travelling zarzuela troupe. He didn’t return to Europe until he was 18 or 20, iirc.
:) big ol smile!
Now I have to get to work on my Cuban supper. Viva hispanoamerica!
Go Flaco Jiminez!! Go Emilio Navaira. Go Ruben Ramos. I love norteno music, and I have a huge collection of mariachi CDs, and ones Linda Rondstadt made in Spanish. I also have all of the Trio Los Panchos, including the ones with Edie Gorme. Awesome.
Thank you; that was wonderful!!
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