Mexico
Mexican

Woods, monofilament, nylon, mother-of-pearl
Early 21st century
Height: 51.5 in; Width: 29.5 in; Depth: 17.5 in
Chordophone – Harps

The Mexican harp historically came from Spain and as the Spaniards brought their instruments to Veracruz, the instruments quickly spread throughout Mexico.  The various indigenous people developed their own style of music, so there are varied and distinct types and techniques of playing the harp that trace to the Jarocho music of the southern coast of Veracruz to the mariachi music from western Mexican states of Jalisco and Michoacán.  In Veracruz, the harp was used for melodic harmonies and solos, giving it a more central role in son jarocho music.  In Mexico, the original mariachi music was comprised of the guitarra de golpe (5-string guitar), violins, and the harp.  Here, the role of the harp was primarily bass and melody second, after the violin.  Eventually, in the mariachi ensemble the guitarrón replaced the mariachi harp because it was easier to carry from place to place, and the violins would play the melodic lines.

Today, the harp is starting to return to the mariachi ensemble, where its role is to play the bass line along with the guitarrón. The harpist can also play the melody, chords and arpeggios per the specified musical arrangements. Though the Jalisco harp style with a tacote top is commonly used in the mariachi ensemble, the Veracruz harp style with a cedar top is also used.

This traditional mariachi or Jalisco style harp has 36 monofilament nylon and nylon wound or wrapped bass strings, a solid tacote soundboard with four beautifully inlayed rosettes (mother-of-pearl), and a cedar neck/bridge, pillar and body.  When playing the mariachi harp, the left-hand plays the bass line, and the right-hand performs the melodic line.