page_title: Banda music
section_title: Traditional Brass Banda Sound
hierarchical_section_title: Banda music / Traditional Brass Banda Sound
caption_attribution_description: Español: El Recodo en Cancún, 10 de Julio del 2009, organizado por Medek Entertainment.
context_page_description: Banda is a term to designate a genre of Regional Mexican music and the musical ensemble in which wind instruments, mostly of brass and percussion, are performed.
  The history of banda music in Mexico dates from the middle of the 19th century with the arrival of piston metal instruments, when the communities tried to imitate the military bands. The first bandas were formed in Southern and Central Mexico. In each village of the different territories, there are certain types of brass bands, whether traditional, private, or municipal.
context_section_description: A standard Sinaloa-style banda is made up of brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The most notable instrument is the tambora which is a type of bass drum with a head made from animal hide, with a cymbal on top. Bandas were previously called "tamboras", named after this drum. The tambora is played in a strong and embellished manner, which provides the drive for the rest of the band. The percussion section also includes the tarola which is a snare with timbales which would resemble the tom-toms on a regular drumset, cowbells, and cymbals. Banda El Recodo, one of the most famous bandas, features three trumpets, four clarinets, three valve trombones or slide trombones, two E♭ alto horns, and one sousaphone.
  Like an orchestra, a banda can be organized into different sections. 
  Bass: The lowest-pitched part is played by the sousaphone (referred to as a "tuba" in Mexico).
  Percussion: Tambora (a large bass drum) with a cymbal on top.
  Harmony:  Two Armonias, "charchetas" or "saxores" in Mexico (E♭ alto horns), play using different rhythms, depending on the style.
  Tenor: valve trombones or slide trombones play in the lower register.
  Alto: Trumpets plays in the upper register.
  Soprano: Clarinets and sometimes saxophones play as "singing" instruments that may double the voice.
  Vocals: Banda El Recodo has two vocalists, while Banda Jerez has one. However, some bandas consist of as many as three vocalists.
  Most banda arrangements feature three-part harmony and melodic sections which contrast the timbres of the clarinet, trumpet, and valve trombone sections.
  Historically, bandas were village brass bands called on to entertain the town, and would play anything from opera overtures to big band jazz. This tradition continues today in many towns, especially during festivals and celebrations.
  Bandas usually have a strong percussion. The percussionists generally provide the accents and do not usually play all the time or keep a 'groove'. Often the percussionists will enter only when the singer is not singing, such as in an instrumental chorus. The groove is mostly provided by the sousaphone (or bass guitar in a few recordings) playing the bass line, and the alto horns playing sharp upbeats. Typically when a banda plays a cumbia, the alto horn players switch to Latin percussion instruments such as timbales, maracas, cowbell, congas, bongos and guiro.
  Bandas generally contain between 10 and 20 members. They usually have a lead singer and a second voice, and occasionally a third voice. The voice often consists of a duet, but solo singers and trios are also common.
  Besides the typical instrumentation, banda music, as well as many other forms of Regional Mexican music, is also noted for the grito mexicano, a yell that is done at musical interludes within a song, either by the musicians and/or the listening audience.
caption: Banda El Recodo
exif: {}