<div align="justify">For ages, musical instruments have had a strange connection with rituals, be it religious or ceremonial. The same holds good for Mexico. Archaeological research has shown that there were over 1,400 musical instruments in pre-Columbian Mexico, some of which were even considered divine and worshipped as idols.<br /><br />However, the musical scene of Mexico underwent a sea change with the Spanish invasion.<br /><br />European musical instruments were slowly introduced in Central America, and Mexico was no exception. So entered organs, guitars, harps, flutes, violins, trumpets, mandolins and accordions.<br /><br />Of all the musical instruments, it was the guitar that became popular.<br /><br />Known as guitarrón mexicano, the Mexican guitar is bigger than the regular guitar, has a convex back, almost V-shaped, and has six strings.<br /><br />Of the six strings, three are nylon and the rest are wound metal. Played by all Mexican mariachi bands, the guitar is an indispensable part of a Mexican musical ensemble consisting of two trumpets, two violins, a vihuela, a Spanish guitar, and a guitarrón mexicano.<br /><br />Another musical instrument of interest is the vihuela, which is a high-pitched, five-stringed instrument that’s similar to a guitar. However, this Mexican instrument shouldn’t be confused with the Spanish one with the same name.<br /><br />Tuned similarly to the guitar, vihuela, with its five nylon strings, is played along with the Spanish guitar to complement its pitch.<br /><br />This instrument produces a high-pitched, rich sound that is any musician’s delight.<br /><br />Equally interesting is the harp-like arpajarocha. This large wooden instrument has 36 strings, and is played while standing. Believed to have originated in Veracruz, Mexico, arpajarocha is one of the various forms of harp that evolved from models introduced by Spain in the 16th century.<br /><br />When it was first introduced, it was small, and was hence played seated. It was only in the 1940s it was built large, to suit group music, especially of the folk variety.<br /><br />Within Mexico itself, there are many variations of this instrument, depending on the region of its origin.<br /><br />Talking of the musical instruments that were born in Veracruz, there’s marimba, which looks like a xylophone.<br /><br />Originally made of wooden bars with resonators attached to them, they are now made of metal, but enjoy a lot of popularity among native musicians.<br /><br />It is believed that the Africans who were imported as slaves by the Spanish built them similarly to the ones back home. The modern marimba used in concerts demands four players, for it’s almost three metres long.<br /><br />Then there’s flauto de tres hoyos, which translates to ‘three-holed flute’. Though small in size, no Mexican music is complete without it.<br /><br />While writing about Mexican musical instruments, one can go on and on.</div>
<div align="justify">For ages, musical instruments have had a strange connection with rituals, be it religious or ceremonial. The same holds good for Mexico. Archaeological research has shown that there were over 1,400 musical instruments in pre-Columbian Mexico, some of which were even considered divine and worshipped as idols.<br /><br />However, the musical scene of Mexico underwent a sea change with the Spanish invasion.<br /><br />European musical instruments were slowly introduced in Central America, and Mexico was no exception. So entered organs, guitars, harps, flutes, violins, trumpets, mandolins and accordions.<br /><br />Of all the musical instruments, it was the guitar that became popular.<br /><br />Known as guitarrón mexicano, the Mexican guitar is bigger than the regular guitar, has a convex back, almost V-shaped, and has six strings.<br /><br />Of the six strings, three are nylon and the rest are wound metal. Played by all Mexican mariachi bands, the guitar is an indispensable part of a Mexican musical ensemble consisting of two trumpets, two violins, a vihuela, a Spanish guitar, and a guitarrón mexicano.<br /><br />Another musical instrument of interest is the vihuela, which is a high-pitched, five-stringed instrument that’s similar to a guitar. However, this Mexican instrument shouldn’t be confused with the Spanish one with the same name.<br /><br />Tuned similarly to the guitar, vihuela, with its five nylon strings, is played along with the Spanish guitar to complement its pitch.<br /><br />This instrument produces a high-pitched, rich sound that is any musician’s delight.<br /><br />Equally interesting is the harp-like arpajarocha. This large wooden instrument has 36 strings, and is played while standing. Believed to have originated in Veracruz, Mexico, arpajarocha is one of the various forms of harp that evolved from models introduced by Spain in the 16th century.<br /><br />When it was first introduced, it was small, and was hence played seated. It was only in the 1940s it was built large, to suit group music, especially of the folk variety.<br /><br />Within Mexico itself, there are many variations of this instrument, depending on the region of its origin.<br /><br />Talking of the musical instruments that were born in Veracruz, there’s marimba, which looks like a xylophone.<br /><br />Originally made of wooden bars with resonators attached to them, they are now made of metal, but enjoy a lot of popularity among native musicians.<br /><br />It is believed that the Africans who were imported as slaves by the Spanish built them similarly to the ones back home. The modern marimba used in concerts demands four players, for it’s almost three metres long.<br /><br />Then there’s flauto de tres hoyos, which translates to ‘three-holed flute’. Though small in size, no Mexican music is complete without it.<br /><br />While writing about Mexican musical instruments, one can go on and on.</div>
