Music Sound

Norte�o (literally meaning "northern" in Spanish, and also known as conjunto) is a traditional style of Mexican music that originated in rural northern Mexico in the early 20th century, a form of music based largely on corridos and polka. The accordion and the bajo sexto is the music's most characteristic instruments. Norte�o is extremely popular among first-generation Mexicans in both the inner city barrios and the rural countrysides of the United States and Mexico.

Norte�o is the most popular subgenre of the Tex-Mex musical category. It is not to be confused with tejano music, which is more similar to rock music.

In the 1950s, the spread of conjunto and norte�o into southern Texas gave rise to Tejano (or "Tex-Mex"), which in its modern version is also influenced by rock and swing [1]. Another norte�o-derived style is banda, which uses solely brass instruments instead of accordions and guitars.

Some of the most popular norte�o artists include Los Tigres del Norte, Ram�n Ayala y sus Bravos del Norte, Los Gavilanes, Carlos y Jose, Los Alegres de Ter�n, Los Huracanes del Norte, Los Tucanes De Tijuana, and others.

Contents 1 The sound of norte�o 1.1 Sound samples 2 See also 3 External links

The sound of norte�o

In the past, norte�o bands consisted of an accordion as the lead instrument, with the bajo sextos (a type of 12-string Mexican guitar) serving as the roots of the music. Today, a modern Norte�o band usually consists of an accordion, a bajo sexto, a bass guitar, a drum set. Occasionally, a saxophone or electronic keyboard may also be included. Click here to hear what a typical norte�o song sounds like. (Un Pu�o de Tierra by Ramon Ayala y sus Bravos del Norte)

Norte�o has many different regional styles. Norte�o in Texas, for example, is very likely to be influenced by American music, while norte�o from Tijuana and Tamaulipas may sometimes have influences from the Caribbean. Durango and Sinaloa have also produced norte�o bands, even though the two states are more closely associtated with the musical styles of duranguense and banda, respectively. Chihuahua and Zacatecas norte�o often incorporates the saxophone into their bands, creating a saxophone-accordion duet. Additionally, norte�o music from Guanajuato and Chiapas sometimes employs synthetic marimbas in their music instead of the usual accordion.

Each norte�o band also has its own unique adorno (music which interrupt the lyrical lines in between). For example, one of Los Tigres del Norte's adornos is a series of flutters, while Los Rieleros del Norte's adornos are characterized by descending scales.

Sound samples

These sound samples illustrate the typical sound of norte�o music.

Modern norte�o:

• Chaparrra de mi Amor by Palomo
• De Un Rancho A Otro by Dueto Voces del Rancho
• El Disgusto by Dinastia Norte�a
• En Las Cantinas by El Chapo de Sinaloa
• Las Tres Ramitas by Los Dinamicos Del Norte
• Simon Blanco by Los Rieleros del Norte (saxophone-accordion duet)
• Te Quiero Mucho by Los Rieleros del Norte
• Reina del Sur by Los Tigres del Norte (heavier guitar effect, different accordion playing technique)
• Causame La Muerte by Los Tigres del Norte

Traditional norte�o:

• Busca Otro Amor by Las Jilguerillas
• El Chubasco by Carlos y Jos�
• Ojitos Negros by Cornelio Reyna
• Por Una Mujer Casada by Los Tremendos Gavilanes

See also

• Music of Mexico
• Nortec

External links

• The Handbook of Texas Online: Musica Norte�a