This week in our online class we’re going to focus on American music from a part of the Unites States that is historically, politically, linguistically, culturally and, most important for our purposes, musically a hybrid of two things. Conjunto music of the Mexican-American communities of Southern Texas is a not just form of entertainment and a conjunto gathering not just a lighthearted excuse to dance. The term conjunto, which in Spanish means “set” or “group,” refers both to the coming-together of a diversity of musical influences from Mexico and Southern Texas to form a culturally unique Mexican-American music genre, but also to the group of musicians that band together to create that music. Conjuntos are community events that allow Texan Mexicans the ability to celebrate their history and culture. Conjuntos are also bands that play all the good old dances–Mexican, German, and more–to playfully, yet powerfully, channel the past.
Over the course of the next week we’re going to look at some of the forms of music that formed the building blocks of conjunto. ¡Vamonos!
