New Mexico music
New Mexico music (Spanish: música nuevo mexicana)[1] is a genre of music that originated in the US state of New Mexico. It derives from Pueblo music in the 13th century,[2] and with the folk music of Hispanos during the 16th to 19th centuries in Santa Fe de Nuevo México.
This article is about the music genre. For music from other genres in the State of New Mexico, see Music of New Mexico.New Mexico music
13th century: Pueblos
16th century: Nuevo México, New Spain
1960s: New Mexico, United States
- Accordion
- acoustic guitar
- Anasazi flute
- bajo sexto
- banjo
- bass
- bullroarer
- classical guitar
- dobro
- double bass
- drums
- electric bass
- electric guitar
- electric organ
- fiddle
- flute
- güiro
- guitar
- harp
- keyboard
- mandolin
- melodica
- pedal steel guitar
- piano
- pump organ
- rattles
- saxophone
- steel guitar
- synthesizer
- tarola
- trumpets
- vocals
- whistle
During the early 1900s, the genre began to incorporate country music and American folk music. The 1950s and 1960s brought the influences of blues, jazz, rockabilly, and rock and roll into New Mexico music. During the 1970s, the music style entered popular music in the Southwestern United States.[3][2][4][5][6]
The language of the vocals in New Mexico music is usually Mexican and New Mexican Spanish, American and New Mexican English, Spanglish, Tiwa, Hopi, Zuni, Navajo, and/or Southern Athabaskan languages.
Songs and musicians[edit]
Smithsonian Folkways has released traditional New Mexico music on the following albums: Spanish and Mexican Folk Music of New Mexico (1952),[13] Spanish Folk Songs of New Mexico (1957),[14] Music of New Mexico: Native American Traditions (1992),[15] and Music of New Mexico: Hispanic Traditions (1992).[16] These albums feature recordings of songs like "Himno del Pueblo de las Montañas de la Sangre de Cristo" (lit. "Hymn of the Pueblo of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains") as performed by Cleofis Vigil and "Pecos Polka" as performed by Gregorio Ruiz and Henry Ortiz, "It's Your Fault That You're Looking for Your Horses All Night" as performed by The Turtle Mountain Singers, "Entriega de Novios" as performed by Felix Ortega, "Welcome Home" by Sharon Burch, as well as other classic New Mexico folk songs. The albums also include takes on other New Mexico folk music by multiple New Mexico musicians. John Donald Robb left a significant collection of 3,000 field recordings of Nuevomexicano, Native, and cowboy music, among others, to the University of New Mexico.[a]
Roots revival style New Mexico music, recorded by musicians like Antonia Apodaca, Fernando Celicion, Cleofes Vigil, and Cipriano Vigil, is today performed by bands like Lone Piñon.[17][18][19][20]
Country music artist Michael Martin Murphey released an album titled Land of Enchantment. Tracks such as "Land of the Navajo" and "Land of Enchantment" made use of various instruments typically found in New Mexico music. Other country musicians incorporate New Mexico style music into their sound, including Billy Dawson, Daniel Solis, Josh Grider, and Shawn Brooks.[21][22][23][24]
Neotraditional New Mexico music thrives due to the continued popularity of the late Al Hurricane and A. Paul Ortega,[25][26] along with modern musicians Al Hurricane Jr., Robert Mirabal,[27] Darren Cordova,[28] Lorenzo Antonio, Sparx, Cuarenta y Cinco, Apache Spirit, Dynette Marie, and Tobias Rene.[6][29][30][31] These Neotraditional musicians are regularly featured as headlining pop artists during the New Mexico State Fair.[32][33] They are also sought-after performers for events such as Fiestas de Santa Fe, Fourth of July celebrations, sporting events, and Balloon Fiesta, as well as at venues such as the New Mexican casinos.[34][35][36]