Corrido: what it is, history, main characteristics, types of corrido and examples (2023)

What is a career?

In oral literature we find a wide variety of formats through which verbal experience was transmitted, one of which was the corrido, a genre that developed on the American continent, particularly on Mexican territory. It is a type of oral literature created to be recited, sung, and even danced. However, this expression has a peculiarity and can be found in the form of a poem or in other formats such as song or ballad.

Another name by which the Mexican corrido is popularly known is morning tragedies, verses or couplets. One of its most important characteristics is related to the subject, since the corridos deal with themes such as politics, history, sentimental relationships and revenge, among others, although in their early days they focused on recounting the exploits and battles of the revolution.

History of Bullfighting

It was a term used by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra to refer to poems intended to be sung, although it is also possible to find the term in the 1729 Dictionary of Authorities. However, it is believed that he was born with the narratives created after the Spanish invasion, whose roots go back to medieval times in Spain, with corridos mainly accompanied by stringed instruments.

Upon arrival in American territory, particularly southern Mexico, the corrido begins to reverberate, this time incorporating other musical instruments such as the accordion, quinta bass, drums, and others. From that moment, the Corrido began to tell Mexican stories of the time, leading to what is now known as the Corrido Norteño.

In its early days, the corrido was used as an informational and educational tool, but with the social and political changes to come, it also reached a subversive purpose, which appropriated the memorization of songs and oral transmission to spread through means of communication such as the radio. Its evolution was such that the expression soon took on an epic tone in processes such as the War of Independence, the Mexican Revolution and the Cristera War, in which the victories of revolutionary, popular and religious leaders, gestures, defeats, confrontations, among others, were seen . Events are counted.

Its connection with the oral tradition will continue to be very important, since it will fulfill an informative function, through which the dissemination of historical facts was facilitated by popular compositions, which are circulated in the public squares of cities like squares, manifesting themselves as a form of tradition . .Orally

Main features of the race.

Now it's time to see the main characteristics of this expression that allow us to observe its evolution and particular characteristics to distinguish it from others that are part of the oral literature:

Theme of the corridors

One of the most important aspects of this mode of expression is that it can later be applied to a wide variety of subject areas, in which it also fulfills different functions, as we will see later. However, one of the characteristics of the Corrido is the examination of historical, political and social issues, which above all correspond to its original use in different social processes of the time.

social relevance

Especially during its heyday, which as mentioned took place during warfare, the corrido will have great importance within society. In addition to its variety of original intentions, the corrido at the time also implies and represents a set of elements that make up the worldview of societies that conform to the codes implemented at the time. Currently, however, the corrido has taken other directions related to clashes between mafia cartels.

professional flexibility

Another feature of this expression is related to the composition and its oral implication, since it led to a multitude of manifestations that are today interpreted in musical genres that are not only typical of the Mexican territory but at the same time very widespread. in other areas and regions.

European influence

The Corridos are believed to be a continuation of what was originally Romanticism, an expression of European origin. For this reason, the corrido will have an evolution largely based on this manifestation that came to the area after the Spanish invasion, when the indigenous people began to appropriate the format, this time to give life to their own needs and expressive intentions.

Extension of the corridor

Currently, the important expansion of the corrido as an oral expression of the people can be observed. Although originally built in Mexico and also in the southern United States, over time it became possible to know under the same term an expression that spread to other countries with similar intentions. Later, however, after the adaptation and spread of the genre, it could occupy a different set of destinations.

types of races

Depending on the purpose of the corrido, different types of corrido can be identified, which have evolved since its inception and have given rise to other manifestations over time. These types of executions are shown below:

identity race

This type of corrido occurs mainly during the Mexican Revolution, where the corrido was used to establish and glorify the identity of the soldiers going into battle. At that time, the corrido was also used as a means of motivating opponents, who pointed out in a striking way that the group of soldiers should be disqualified.

sober breed

It's a kind of corrido interested in moral education. The sobering corrido is notable for establishing a set of values, which it describes through warnings, stories, and advice, among other things, that serve to illustrate situations. It is a type of corrido that had a major impact on society as it also highlighted a range of worldviews, ideas and expectations regarding the behavior of communities based on the codes of the time as well as the context in which it was performed .. They established.

informative run

As the name suggests, it is a type of corrido aimed at informing a group of people about a specific event or situation. In its early days, the informative corrido was aimed at groups of illiterate people to inform them, among other things, about the death of a recognized leader, events related to the clashes in the country, the capture of a city. The dissemination of news thus fulfilled its function as a means of communication in the same way as a newspaper later did.

Corridor for the formation of public opinion

In this case, the corrido was destined either to uplift the caudillos or to discredit them, since at that moment the formation of factions was crucial, in which each party was responsible for promoting the knowledge and propaganda of those who acted as leaders were used. So the corrido consisted of victories, powers, virtues or defeats, disadvantages and more about one or the other caudillo.

A parenthesis must be put here, since there are other types of corridors that, apart from their function or goal, have been identified mainly by the hero they were dedicated to or by their theme. Thus, it is possible to identify:

Villista runner

This type of corridos talks about Pancho Villa and his followers. Let's remember that Pancho Villa, as he was mainly known, was one of the most important leaders of the Mexican Revolution and therefore a well-known leader. The corridors above him told the story and the battles he took part in and shed light on the perspective of the revolution and the values ​​they fought for.

Zapatista Corridor

In this case, the corrido is part of the collective memory and testifies to the feelings of the people of the south. It will be a kind of corrido born from the followers of Emiliano Zapata, peasant and military leader of the same revolution, in which the themes should express the demands and needs of the people. One of their main peculiarities has to do with the fact that they were corridos of partially educated peasants who, although neglecting the form of the corrido in order to emphasize the content, referred mainly to freedom in their corridos.

other races

There are also other newer corridors that have been classified according to the specific issues they deal with. Many of them are called prison corridors, political corridors, treason, among others. Outstanding are those corridors that tell stories told by the people themselves.

Bullfight example

One of the most famous and distinctive corridors of this oral expression is that entitled “La Cucaracha”. However, it is a corrido of which several versions are known, a typical aspect of oral tradition. One of the earliest known versions is shown below:

Of a Moor's chops
I have to make a broom
sweep the barracks
the Spanish infantry.
From the ribs of a Moor
I dare to build a bridge
with it Spain and her valiant army
and your brave army

Without a doubt, the corrido has been one of the expressions that has undergone the greatest changes during its evolution and has given life today to a great variety of formats that we can identify in different regions of the Americas. Remember that if you want to learn more about other forms of oral literature, you can find much more information in our section to learn more about this form of literature.