! Featured Composer of the Month !
Silvestre Revueltas
Revueltas was born in Mexico on the very last day of the year 1899. During these times, Mexico was
just beginning to emerge as a major musical culture, thanks to the early work of Manuel Ponce. Furthermore,
Carlos Chavez was a rising start by the 1920's contributing to a thoroughly native-based national sound.
Revueltas, though, went much further along these lines than his compatriots. Combined with Conlon Nancarrow
and Julián Carrillo, Revueltas forged a radical new path in the Mexican musical landscape. The music
of Revueltas is alternatively raucous and wild, and deeply nostalgic in contemplation of the native
Indian culture of times distant past. His music frequently comprises a mysterious mixture of the two
stylistic tendencies. Along these combined lines the most engaging and forward looking works are:
Cuauhnnahuac (1931-32); Ventanas (1931); Ocho per Radio (1933); Planos "Geometric Dance" (1934);
Redes, concert suite from the film (1935); Homenage a Federico Garcia Lorca (1937); Le noche de los
Mayas (1939), suite from the film; and the sensationally popular Sensemaya (1937-8). Janitzio (1933)
and Caminos (1934) enjoy a certain currency, too. The music is rich with colorful dissonances and intricate
rhythms. He died in 1940 of alcoholism.
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