2. Musical Link - Compositional Style

Similarities:

Another link in the Mariachi and the Bavarian Folk piece is that the compositional style is very similar. One thing that both pieces have in common is that they are both instrumental and therefore don’t contain vocal.

Another notable compositional style that both pieces have in common is that the bass lines in the pieces are very similar. In the Mariachi piece the guitarron provides the bass and in the Bavarian piece it is the tuba.

In both pieces the bass line outlines a I V I chord structure.

In 4/4 time the basic measure of these two instruments consists of four quarter notes or rests keeping the pulse. This is repetitive throughout both pieces.

The bass lines are also keeping the instruments together, keeping the tempo and determining the chords.

Apart from that the bass lines of both pieces are on the 1^st and 3^rd beat, as can be seen in the images. 

Image showing the bass line in section A in “Jesusita en Chihuahua”

Image showing the bass line in section A in “Tegernseer Polka”

Another similarity in the Mariachi and Bavarian piece is that Call & Response (Antiphonal Phrasing) is used. In the Mariachi piece the antiphonal phrasing is between the pizzicato violins and the trumpets (i.e. 0:00-0:28min.). In the Bavarian piece it is between the clarinets and the trombone (i.e. 0:25-0:34min.)

Image showing the antiphonal phrasing in “Jesusita en Chihuahua” (0:00-0:28sec.)

Image showing the antiphonal phrasing in “Tegernseer Polka”(0:25-0:34sec.)

Differences:

One difference I have determined between the two pieces is that the Mexican piece has multiple violins or multiple trumpets playing the same melodic line at the same time, which means that they are playing in unison. In the Bavarian piece each instrument has its own individual role and no instrument is doubled. Sometimes there are even two of the same kind of instrument that are playing different melodic lines.