Mariachi Monarcas de Milwaukee – Re/sound

Cultural Connections through Song

Mariachi Monarcas de Milwaukee adds their own flair to traditional mariachi songs that evoke emotions and pride in Mexican culture, and connect people across time and place.

Interview

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Three questions…

Francisco shares how audiences appreciate that mariachi songs can make them feel strong emotions. What kinds of emotions do the songs you listen to make you feel? Why do you think that is?

Marianna describes the sense of pride in her Mexican identity she feels when she performs mariachi music, and when she sees other mariachi groups on stage as well. Is there music that connects you to your cultural identity? What kinds of activities make you feel proud of your culture?

Francisco and Marianna talk about what it is like to live in a place that is far from where they consider their roots to be, which makes it more challenging to learn and continue traditions of their culture. Is this something you’ve experienced? How do you connect to and celebrate your own culture?

Performance

“El Son de la Negra” – The song in this performance by Mariachi Monarcas de Milwaukee is a Mexican folk song. It is one of, if not the most well-known mariachi songs. The song’s message is about asking a woman not to give her heart away to others.

View transcript with lyrics: English Transcript Spanish Transcript

Song

“El Son de la Negra”

Musicians participating in this project have granted permission to PBS Wisconsin Education for their selected songs to be shared. By using this PBS Wisconsin Education website or any of the resources provided to you through the website, you signify your agreement to our Terms of Use.

“…I think it's especially important to bring back that music that our parents would listen to as children that we listen to growing up on the radios at home, [to] have that connection back to our roots and be able to share that connection and able to share those memories and that tradition with all of the people here.”

— Marianna Tellez

Project Credits

Producer
Ryan Hendricks

Coordinating Producer
Mia Forslund

Videography
David Boffa
Ian Glodich
Ryan Hendricks

Editing
Ryan Hendricks

Sound
Zack Sieger

Captioning
Catie Pfeifer

Web Design
Charles Barrows
Norman Yuson Cuaño

Web Development
John Vieth
Tim Schneider

Graphic and Motion Design
Ian Glodich
Amanda Roslansky
Scott Stetson

Music Education Content
Darin Menk
Laurie Fellenz

Educator Guide
Beatriz Aguilar

Musicians
Francisco Hernández
Marianna Tellez
Cecilia Ramirez
Vanessa Salinas Sanchez
Manuel Landin Lopez
Ricardo Saavedra
Lizbeth Vallejo
Logan Brown
Luke Schwerer

Project Partner
Wisconsin School Music Association

Executive Producer
Ryan Hendricks

Director of Education
Megan Monday

Director of Television
Jon Miskowski

Special Thanks
Dinorah Márquez
Jacobo Lovo
Latino Arts, Inc. and the United Community Center
Mexican Fiesta

Funding Provided By

Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation

Focus Fund for Education

Friends of PBS Wisconsin