#ClassicsaDay #ClassicalMexico Week 3
By Ralph Graves
The Classics a Day team decided to turn a holiday — Cinco de Mayo — into a month-long celebration. Mexico has a rich classical music tradition. It dates back to the early 1600s when Spanish — and very soon native-born — composers began writing music for church services. And today Mexico has a thriving classical music community. Even if we’re not aware of it here in the States.
Mexico has four centuries of classical music to choose from. Here are my selections for the third week of #ClassicalMexico.
05/15/23 Felipe Villanueva (1862–1893): Amar (Nocturno)
Villanueva was a gifted pianist and violinist, as well as a composer. Although he died at 31, he’s still considered one of the major figures of Mexican music during the Romantic Era.
05/16/23 Gustavo Campa (1863-1934):Tios Minatures for string quartet
When Campa attended the Conservatorio Nacional, the Italian style of composition prevailed. Campa led a group of students who embraced the French style. He would join the Conservatorio as a professor, and eventually become its director.
05/17/23 Ricardo Castro (1864–1907): Piano concerto in A minor, Op. 22
Castro was a concert pianist as well as a composer. He wrote his first symphony at 19, and his first opera at 32. His piano concerto dates from 1904.
05/18/23 Juventino Rosas (1868–1894): Sobre la Olas
Rosas was a violinist who also wrote salon music. He began as a street musician, and his music had immediate appeal. Though he died at age 26, Rosas is one of Mexico’s most popular composers. His melodies have been used in jazz, bluegrass, country, old-time, and Tejano music.
05/19/23 Alfredo Carrasco (1875-1945): Romanza sin palabras
Carrasco was a composer who spent most of his career in Mexico City. Some of his music was recorded by Victor in 1918.
