Literature Atlas

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The Corrido

Narrative and Song Forms

A Mexican narrative ballad form sung in rhymed quatrains, descended from the Spanish romance, recounting real or legendary events of love, injustice, banditry, revolution and migration; a living popular form that remains a vehicle for Mexican and Mexican-American storytelling and social commentary today.

Facts
Place of Origin
Mexico, 19th century, descended from the Spanish romance ballad tradition. 1
Structure
Rhymed octosyllabic quatrains sung to a simple, repeating melody, typically opening with a formal address to the listener and closing with the singer's own farewell (despedida). 1
Notable Example
Corridos of the Mexican Revolution, including "La Cucaracha" and the many corridos commemorating Pancho Villa. 1
Connections

Form Of Genre

Lyric Poetry, Genres
Source Encyclopaedia Britannica

Influenced By

The Ballad, Forms
Source Encyclopaedia Britannica
In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.View the Source
Wikipedia: Corrido
  • Lead paragraph
    The songs often feature topics such as oppression, history, daily life for criminals, the vaquero lifestyle, and other socially relevant themes.
  • History
    the genre flourished and acquired its 'epic' tones, along with the three-step narrative structure.
View the Source

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