Arpa Grande is a musical tradition deeply rooted in a cultural region spanning several municipalities in Michoacán, including Aguililla, Coalcomán, Aquila, and particularly Apatzingán. Despite its name, the Arpa Grande traditional is a collective musical practice rather than a solo harp tradition, typically featuring two violins, the arpa grande (large wooden harp), and two regional guitars—the vihuela and the guitarra de golpe, also known as a "quinta."  

While the ensemble format is crucial, the harp serves as an essential component, as it provides melody, bass, and rhythmic elements. Melodically, it plays scalar and arpeggiated figures that often double or respond to the violins. The bass is provided through low-register plucking outlining harmonic progressions. Rhythmically, the harp’s soundboard is struck with the fingers in a technique called tamboreo or cacheteo (drumming or tapping), producing percussive accents that imitate and support the ensemble’s meter and phrasing. The repertoire prominently includes traditional genres, such as sones, regional songs, corridos, and danzas, but also includes more popular genres like cumbias.  

Although the tradition is often associated with the Tierra Caliente region, it extends beyond these geographic limits into neighboring areas of Jalisco, making it a broader regional tradition not strictly defined by Tierra Caliente alone. This distinction is captured by the regional term "Planeco," used to describe particular styles of sones that clearly mark the Arpa Grande tradition, distinguishing it from similar but stylistically different music such as mariachi.  

Today, Arpa Grande thrives among Michoacano and Jalisciense immigrant communities in the San Joaquin Valley, preserving its deep historical roots and adapting to contemporary contexts. This musical practice remains a significant marker of regional identity, community life, and cultural heritage within immigrant communities, continually adapting while maintaining its distinct traditional characteristics.

For this story page, we recorded and interviewed Miguel Prado, musician and director of Arpex, a conjunto de arpa grande from Atwater, CA, and active throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Miguel’s reflections and performances offer a firsthand look at how arpa grande both holds to tradition and continues to evolve and resonate today.