Reflections on the Veracruz son jarocho

Preface

The Veracruz son jarocho is a music and dance tradition performed mostly on chordophones, for example, guitars, harps and violins. Its musical components come originally from Europe – in particular, Spain – with some elements coming from West Africa and some influence from indigenous Americans. It is associated principally with the southern-central part of the State of Veracruz, Mexico, as attested to by Sheehy (1979), Stanford (1984) and Huidobro (1995), among others.

The physiography of this region consists largely of flat coastal plains with the Gulf of Mexico to the east and mountains surrounding the other three sides. Several significant river systems flow through this area, the most important being the Papaloapan in the middle of the region and the Coaztzacoalcos to the south. There are also many lagunes where the rivers empty into the gulf, and the area as a whole is warm and humid giving rise to tropical and subtropical fruits and plants. This region, known as the Sotavento [Leeward], includes several microregions with their own agrarian and cultural variations.

In historical terms, Hoffman and Velázquez (1994) report that human activity has existed in this region since about 1500 BCE with a notable spike during the Olmec civilization around 1200 BCE. For reasons still not completely understood, the region was soon abandoned up until sometime after 900 CE when it was occupied by several indigenous groups. Further to the north, in the Papaloapan river basin, the Mixtequilla culture emerged around the beginning of the Christian Era and developed a system of writing and sculpture which resulted in the creation of large stelae.

Important characteristics of this plains area during pre-Hispanic times was its relatively large population density and its function as a commercial ‘corridor’, with land trade routes connecting peoples north of the area with those further south. In addition, since at least the fourth until the sixteenth centuries CE, a large part of this region was under Nahua influence and fell under the tribute system of the Mexica. Economically, the inhabitants dedicated themselves principally to fishing and farming, especially growing corn and cotton (González 2002).

The arrival of Spanish conquistadors in the early sixteenth century created huge societal and, more important for the present text, musical changes to what is today south-central Veracruz. The harvesting of trees for the construction of houses and boats received major attention with the resulting augmentation of the plains contributing to a rise in cattle raising and sugar cane cultivation. After the port of Veracruz was constructed it became, and continues to be, a central point of exportation of goods to Europe (Hoffman and Velázquez 1994).

Contact with the Spanish, however, also resulted in a large number of deaths among the indigenous population due to disease and overwork. This, in turn, resulted in a population reduction in the region which was augmented, in part, by the importation of African slaves. At the same time, large portions of land were accrued by a few hacendados [land holders] which lasted until well into the nineteenth century and resulted in a sluggish and exclusionary economy.

During the period when it was considered part of Spain up through Mexico’s independence in the nineteenth century, cities and towns of the region – such as Alvarado, Cosamaloapan, Xalapa and Coatzacoalcos – grew though they often lacked services and trustworthy communication. Some became hubs of specific activities such as Otatitlán as a religious centre and the port city of Veracruz as a commercial centre (Hoffman and Velázquez 1994).

During what is today known as the Porfiriato, roughly 1880 to 1910, the exploitation of certain products such as lumber and rubber declined and the production of others like tobacco, coffee and bananas increased. Another activity which began during this period and which gained greater importance later in the twentieth century was the production of oil; however, it was not until the mid-twentieth century that the region became more fully integrated into the national economy, and communication systems were better established via the construction of highways and the introduction of electricity and phone lines to rural areas (Hoffman and Velázquez 1994).