Music of Mexico Ensemble and Klezmer Music Ensemble

The Music of México Ensemble features mariachi music in a variety of musical styles from various regions of Mexico, including son jalisciense, son huasteco, bolero, ranchera, and huapango. This performance course is designed to familiarize and expose musicians to the repertoire, technique, and musical styles of the mariachi tradition. The performing branch of the class Mariachi de Uclatlán, was formed in 1961, making it the first academic mariachi group in the world. Since the early 1960s, the ensemble has held an important legacy in the transmission of mariachi music in the United States.

The Klezmer Music Ensemble focuses on the performance and style of the Klezmer musical traditions. The ensemble learns from active listening and imitation of a vast array of recordings beginning with pre-WWII European and American Golden Age klezmer, continuing into the klezmer revival and subsequent renaissance of the Seventies, and concluding with more contemporary experimental recordings. Repertoire from the Yiddish Theatre and other Jewish Eastern European traditions such as niggunim [wordless songs] will also be explored. In addition to performing, students will be introduced to key concepts in Jewish culture and history, giving context to the music.

Continuing a tradition begun in 1960, the Department of Ethnomusicology draws on its incredible collection of world musical instruments to present its annual Spring Festival of World Music. It's an opportunity for student ensembles to perform and share traditional musics from around the world as they master their instruments.

Host or Publisher Dept. of Ethnomusicology, UCLAalpert