arpa jarocha

The top of its soundboard sometimes arches outward due to the tension of the strings. Unlike other Mexican harps, the arpa jarocha has its sound holes located on the back of the soundboard instead of on the front.

• Name — Arpa jarocha • Background — string • Classification — chordophone • Volume — Loud • Attack — Fast • Decay — Medium • Related — Harp

The arpa is one of the main instruments used in the conjunto jarocho; a type of Mexican folk ensemble. The musical style in which arpa jarocha is also heard is "sones jarochos," which blends Spanish, indigenous and African-influenced rhythms. Within this genre, the arpa typically provides the main melodies, while instruments such as the jarana guitar and the requinto provide rhythms and counter-melodies. Both men and women play this instrument, although a greater percentage are men.

The arpa jarocha is from Veracruz, Mexico. one of the various forms of harp that evolved from models introduced by Spain in the 16th century, and traced even back further to the Arabs who had occupied Spain for 700 years. The indigenous people of Veracruz had never seen stringed instruments before the Conquest, and quickly adapted their own version which became a pivotal instrument used in many different musical ensembles in Veracruz, but also the rest of Mexico and Latin America.

Some references have stated that the arpa jarocha was used in Jalisco, Michoacán, and among the Chamula Indians; this is incorrect. Each of those regions developed their own adaptation of the baroque Spanish harp. Also, there were regional harps in Zacatecas and in the North with the Yaqui Indians of the northern desert and southwest US.

There are multiple variations of the arpa, depending on where it comes from. The arpa llanera, arpa aragüeña, and arpa criolla originate from Venezuela, the arpa indígena originates from Peru, and the arpa paraguaya originates from Paraguay.