Customer Reviews

20th Century Mexican Compositions

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The two works that I liked the most deserve the four stars.
These are the First Symphony by Ibarra, and the Son by Arturo Marquez. The First Symphony reminds me a little of the the Rite of Spring. Both works are loud and percussive.

First of all congrats to you for finding this disc or good luck on surfing your way back through the cyber maze. Twentieth Century Mexican Symphonic Music is made up of a series of volumes that features "contemporary"(some have since passed away) composers hailing from Mexico. I know , Mexico is not exactly a hot bed for classical training or major international renowned composers but you may want to think again. Erase your preconceptions and feast your ears on some of the grandest music from the land of cactus and sombreros(hats) and visualize tuxedo clad members of the Filarmonica de la Ciudad de Mexico (Philharmonic of Mexico City)performing in someplace like Bellas Artes(Palace of Fine Arts) only it is in your living room. The music is world class with works by major Mexican composers. "Danza Negra"(Black Dance) was written in 1996 by Salvador Contrerras who studied under the illustrious Carlos Chavez . The composition is a beautiful work of art that is peaceful and full of peaks and valleys that takes you soaring on it's wings. One of the prize compositions featured is Federico Ibarra's "First Symphony which as another reviewer noted has tonal qualities that can be associated the "Right of Spring" but there is a define departure from the traditional European style; there is a fluidity that although within a rigid structure bends and sways for a most graceful composition. There are two "First Symphony's " and the longer(30:55) composition with four parts by Eduardo Moncado is a monumental work that has nationalistic veins running throughtout although this was not the composers intent. If you listen carefully there are sections that have qualities associated with the huapango that give the compostion it's distinctly Mexican character that compliments the greater symphonic whole. Daniel Catan's "Tu son, tu risa, tu sonrisa" (Your song, your laughter, your smile) strikes me as a song in search of a movie. It is heavy on percussion and has a light tropical feel that creates images of sunny, shimmering beaches nestled between rich, green mountains that thirsts for the water looming overhead in the dark clouds as the thunder and lighting begins its afternoon ritual. The last track entitled simply "Son" (song) by Arturo Marquez won second place in a national competition and is a composition that is robust and intriguing with elements of mystery and light much like the land and culture of Mexico. All the music is under the direction of Eduardo Diaz Munoz who is an international conducter who has conducted over 50 orchestras in Mexico, The U.S.A., France, Spain and throughtout Central and South America. Whenever you are interested in classical music that comes from south of the border try this for an example of contemporary classical music that is not classical pop. Coming in at 72:41 there is plenty of music to listen to for your money. The booklet provides bios and information on the origins of the compositions and is a bilingual text. Es muy bueno (It is very good)!