Traditional music that originated on the ranches and countryside of rural Mexico. It later became closely associated with the mariachi bands that evolved in Jalisco. Rancheras today are played in virtually all regional Mexican music styles. Drawing on rural traditional folk music, the ranchera developed as a symbol of a new national consciousness in reaction to the aristocratic tastes of the period.
Traditional themes in rancheras are about love, patriotism, or nature. Songs are usually in a major key, and consist of an instrumental introduction, verse and refrain, instrumental section repeating the verse, and another verse and refrain, with a tag ending. Rancheras are also noted for the grito mexicano, a yell that is done at musical interludes within a song, either by the musicians or the listening audience. 1900– .