Heartbeat of the Homeland

San Antonio is the 10th largest city in the country. It has a great influence on Texas as far as culture. Food, clothing, and language are some of the things that define San Antonio as the unique city that it is. But an even greater influence and distinct characteristic of this city is the music. Conjunto music is everywhere around town, but hard to find if you're not looking. Rooting itself in European and Mexican music, conjunto owns its sound and is compared to no other. It uses the basic instruments of a band such as the drums, bass, and even some brass. But the key instrument that brings the sound to life and really accentuates the genre is the button accordion. It is vital to any conjunto band and is practically the main focus; the heart of the band.

Conjunto music is different from other genres in terms of it listening audience in that it its community based. There are night clubs and gatherings that promote this music all over San Antonio. It is a very underground genre that doesn't get a lot of attention from the mainstream audience. it depends on the locals, who, by the way, thrive off of it. Conjunto has a certain purity that it somehow retains and remains untainted. With its own listeners its been in a sort of "discreet limelight" ever since Valerio Longoria put lyrics to it in the 1940's. As time progresses, I'm more than positive it will continue to thrive. More than 60 years in the making, Conjunto music is extremely needed and must be thought of whenever thinking of San Antonio's heart.