Editor’s Note: The following piece is one in a series of short stories profiling performers in the 2003 National Folk Festival this weekend in Bangor.

The distinctive rhythm of Mexican mariachi music has roots that reach as far back as the 1850s.

Nine singing musicians from Los Angeles make up Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano and will bring this historic Mexican music to Bangor.

“The configuration includes violins, trumpets, guitars and two Mexican instruments the guitarron and the vihuela,” said Jose Delgado, manager for the ensemble. “The company was founded by the namesake of the group, Natividad ‘Nati’ Cano, about 42 years ago. Nati plays everything except for the trumpet.”

The guitarron is a bass guitar and the vihuela is a small rhythm guitar. The varied instruments enable the band to perform a wide variety of music, from traditional dance pieces to the latest Latin pop tunes, said Delgado.

Farmers, ranchers and jornaleros or day laborers from the area around Guadalajara in the west Mexico cultivated mariachi into its current form in the 19th and 20th centuries. Mariachi is now considered Mexico’s national music.

Cano was born in 1933 into a family of jornaleros near Guadalajara. He was brought up around music and started on the vihuela when he was 6.

“He’ll probably take people through the musical history of the county,” said Delgado. “It’s very diverse.”

Mariachi’s foundation is rooted in traditional stringed instruments brought from Spain in the 16th and 17th centuries.

“The music is inspired by both indigenous Mexican tradition and European traditions,” said Delgado.

“Los Camperos” translates into The Countrymen. The group has earned recognition over the last four decades and is known around the world as a top-notch mariachi ensemble.

Los Camperos de Nati Cano performs at 9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, on the Railroad Stage; at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, on the Railroad Stage and at 6:15 p.m. on the Heritage Stage; and at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, on the Two Rivers Stage.

– By Nok-Noi Hauger of the NEWS Staff