Women harpists increase presence in Mexican jarocho music

Cristina de la Rosa and her musical ensemble, Coincidencia, promote female musicianship in the traditional jarocho music scene of Mexico.

The group aims to place women at the center of the genre, which historically had very few female harpists. De la Rosa notes that while female harpists were rare 20 years ago, many young women now show a genuine interest in traditional and classical repertoires.

De la Rosa founded Coincidencia in November 2022 after organizing a concert in the teatro Clavijero in Veracruz. The performance combined original compositions with traditional sones like Balajú and Siquisirí. The ensemble features five jarocho harpists, a piano, and a pedal harp. Since that first concert, the group has expanded its repertoire, added visual elements designed by Mexican illustrators, and incorporated choreography.

The ensemble faces several logistical hurdles, including the difficulty of coordinating schedules for musicians who also teach and perform in other groups. They also face technical challenges because sheet music for a configuration of four jarocho harps, a piano, and a pedal harp does not exist, requiring De la Rosa to create many of the arrangements herself. Additionally, the group manages the high costs of transporting large instruments to various performances.

The group has performed at festivals in Veracruz and Sonora, as well as on a tour through the Llanos Orientales in Colombia. De la Rosa says the project fosters a sense of sisterhood among the performers, who support each other to overcome the challenges of establishing a new musical path.