Editing Conjunto

{{Short description|Musical ensembles popular in Cuba and Mexico}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
The term '''''conjunto''''' ({{IPA|es|koŋˈxunto}}, literally 'group', 'ensemble') refers to several types of small musical ensembles present in different [[Latin American music|Latin American musical traditions]], mainly in [[Mexico]] and [[Cuba]]. While Mexican conjuntos play styles such as ''[[Norteño (music)|norteño]]'' and ''[[Tejano (music)|tejano]]'',<ref>{{Cite book |last=Díaz-Santana Garza |first=Luis |title=Between norteño and tejano conjunto |publisher=Lexington books |year=2021}}</ref> Cuban ''conjuntos'' specialize in the ''[[son cubano|son]]'', as well as its derivations such as ''[[salsa music|salsa]]''.

== Mexican ==
'''Mexican conjunto music''', also known as '''''conjunto tejano''''', was born in south [[Texas]] at the end of the 19th century, after [[German Texan|German]] settlers introduced the [[button accordion]]. The ''[[bajo sexto]]'' has come to accompany the button accordion and is integral to the ''conjunto'' sound. Many ''conjuntos'' are concentrated in the Southwestern portion of the [[United States]], primarily in [[Texas]] and [[California]]. In Mexico, the term ''conjunto'' is associated with ''[[Norteño (music)|norteño]]'' and ''tejano'' music. Since ''tejano'' was bred out of ''norteño'' music originally, this association is not entirely false. However, due to various cultural and socioeconomic developments in the 1900s, ''norteño'' musicians began trailblazing the ''tejano'' genre as a tangent to ''conjunto''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ragland |first=Cathy |title=[[Música Norteña: Mexican Migrants Creating a Nation between Nations]] |year=2009 |publisher=[[Temple University Press]] |location=Philadelphia |isbn=978-1-59213-746-6}}</ref>

In the United States and Mexico, a ''conjunto'' band is composed of four main instruments: the button accordion, the ''bajo sexto'', an [[electric bass]], and a [[drum set]]. They are popular in northern Mexico and southern Texas. German and East European settlers brought their accordions, [[waltz]]es and [[polka]]s to the region, which were adapted by the local population.<ref name=Torres>Torres, George. ''Encyclopedia of Latin American Popular Music''. 2013.</ref> Texas accordion player [[Flaco Jiménez]] is probably the best-known conjunto musician in the United States, with a career spanning sixty years and earning him six Grammy awards. ''[[Chulas Fronteras]]'' is a documentary film from the 1970s which illustrates how the music meshed into the lives of families in south Texas and northern Mexico.{{fact|date=January 2023}}

===Conjunto festivals in the United States===

The Tejano-Conjunto Festival in San Antonio began in 1982 and is presented by the [[Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center]], a San Antonio-based nonprofit organization. It is held each May in Rosedale Park in San Antonio.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tejano Conjunto Festival 2024 |url=https://guadalupeculturalarts.org/tejano-conjunto-festival/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=guadalupeculturalarts.org}}</ref>

The Rancho Alegre Conjunto Music Festival in Austin began in 2012<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin-ranchoalegre |date=2018-02-26 |title=Rancho Alegre Conjunto Festival History |url=https://ranchoalegre.org/festival/history |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Rancho Alegre}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Flores |first=Nancy |title=Accordion-heavy conjunto music is focus of 3-day fest |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/entertainment/music/2012/01/30/accordion-heavy-conjunto-music-is/6661812007/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Austin American-Statesman |language=en-US}}</ref> and is presented by Austin-based Rancho Alegre, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Conjunto music.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin-ranchoalegre |date=2013-09-01 |title=About Us |url=https://ranchoalegre.org/about-us |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Rancho Alegre}}</ref> 

The Narciso Martinez Conjunto Festival in the Rio Grande Valley began in 1993<ref>{{Cite web |title=Conjunto Festival |url=https://www.narcisomartinezcac.org/conjunto-festival/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=nmcac |language=en-US}}</ref> and is presented every fall by the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, a San-Benito-based nonprofit organization.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About The Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center |url=https://www.narcisomartinezcac.org/about-the-center/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=nmcac |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Other types of Mexican conjunto===
====Jarocho====
A '''''conjunto jarocho''''' is a type of [[Mexican people|Mexican]] folk ensemble. Often it consists of ''[[requinto de son jarocho|requinto]]'', ''[[arpa jarocha]]'', ''[[jarana de son jarocho|jarana]]'' and ''leona'', but can also have violin, ''[[pandero octagonal]]'', ''[[Jawbone (instrument)|quijada]]'', ''[[marimbol]]'' or ''[[güiro]]''. Its repertory covers ''[[Son Jarocho|sones jarochos]]'' in {{music|time|3|4}}, {{music|time|6|8}} and {{music|time|4|4}}.

====Huasteco====
A '''''conjunto huasteco''''' is a type of [[Mexican people|Mexican]] folk ensemble. Often it consists of ''[[huapanguera|guitarra huapanguera]]'', ''[[jarana huasteca]]'' and violin, but can also have other violins and guitars. Its repertory covers ''[[Son Huasteco|sones huastecos]]'' in {{music|time|3|4}} and {{music|time|6|8}}, and ''rancheras''.

====Arpa grande====
A '''''conjunto de arpa grande''''' is a type of [[Mexican people|Mexican]] folk ensemble. Often it consists of diatonic [[harp]], [[Mexican vihuela]], guitar and two violins. Its repertory covers ''planeco'' music: ''sones planecos'' in {{music|time|3|4}} and {{music|time|6|8}}, and ''rancheras''.

====Calentano====
A '''''conjunto calentano''''' is a type of [[Mexican people|Mexican]] folk ensemble. Often it consists of violin, guitar and [[tamborita calentana|tamborita]], but can also have other violin, [[guitarra panzona]], [[guitarra sexta]] and [[harp]]. Its repertory covers calentano music: [[son calentano|sones calentanos]] and gustos, and other [[musical forms]] such as Indias, malagueñas, peteneras, valses, polkas, pasos dobles, sones, chilenas, minuets, rancheras, and [[corrido]]s.

== Cuban ==
[[File:Conjunto de Arsenio Rodríguez.JPG|thumb|right|260px|Conjunto de Arsenio Rodríguez {{circa}} 1949.]]
Cuban conjunto music was developed in the 1940s by famous tres player [[Arsenio Rodríguez]] by adding several instruments (a [[piano]], a [[tumbadora]] and various trumpets) to the typical ''[[son cubano]]'' ensemble, the ''septeto''. ''Septetos'' consisted of a lead vocalist and guitar(s), double bass, [[bongó]], maracas and trumpet. Even though the origins of the ''conjunto cubano'' can be traced to several ''sextetos'' and ''septetos'' of the 1920s, it wasn't until the 1940s when Arsenio Rodríguez expanded the Sexteto Bellamar that the ''conjunto'' was established. However, some authors argue that the Conjunto Kubavana, conducted by Alberto Ruiz, was the first Cuban conjunto, founded around 1937.<ref>Ordoqui García, Joaquín. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20060614140043/http://herencialatina.com/Kubavana/Kuvabana.htm El Conjunto Kubavana: Primer Conjunto Sonero de Cuba]". ''Herencia Latina''.</ref> The conjunto contrasted with [[ballroom]] [[orchestras]], the ''[[Charanga (Cuba)|charangas]]'', ''orquestas'' and ''danzoneras'' that were made popular by bandleaders such as [[Antonio Arcaño]].<ref name=Torres />

Conjunto music was crucial in the early development of [[salsa music|salsa]]. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the [[Music of Puerto Rico|Puerto Rican music]] scene in New York City revolved around charangas such as [[Charlie Palmieri]]'s Duboney Orchestra. Their music was largely based on Cuban styles such as [[mambo (music)|mambo]], [[chachachá]] and, most importantly, [[pachanga]]. Key charanga flautist, bandleader and entrepreneur [[Johnny Pacheco]] switched from the charanga configuration to the conjunto in 1964. However, the first New York-based conjunto was [[Eddie Palmieri]]'s "La Perfecta", which had its debut in 1962. These conjuntos would be crucial in the early development of the most successful Latin American music genre to date, salsa. Notably, the introduction of Puerto Rican music styles such as [[Bomba (Puerto Rico)|bomba]] and [[plena]] within the conjunto and Cuban music in general resulted in what is known today as salsa.<ref name=Torres />

== See also ==
*[[Mexican music]]
*[[Cuban music]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book
| author=Juan Guillermo Contreras Arias ([[INAH]])
| title = Atlas Cultural de México: Música
| year = 1988
| publisher = México: Grupo Editorial Planeta 
| isbn = 968-406-121-8
}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.pbs.org/accordiondreams/main/index.html PBS.org: documentary video - "Accordion Dreams"] — ''history of Conjunto music''.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080604141301/http://wbgu.org/community/documentary/PlayingFromHeart/JessePonce_index.html PBS−WBGU.org: documentary video - "Playing From the Heart"] — ''about a Conjunto musician''.
* [http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/SrvltConsulta?TIPO_BUS=3&LEMA=conjunto Buscon.rae.es: "Conjunto definition"]—{{in lang|es}}
* [https://texasarchive.org/taxonomy/term/116367 Texas Conjunto Hall of Fame Videos] at [[Texas Archive of the Moving Image]]

{{Music of Mexico}}
{{Music in Spanish}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Regional styles of Mexican music]]
[[Category:Latin music genres]]
[[Category:Music of Texas]]
[[Category:Cuban styles of music]]
[[Category:German-American culture in Texas]]
[[Category:Son cubano]]
[[Category:Tejano music]]