Carlos Chávez (1899-1978)

Donald Macleod is joined by Odaline de la Martinez to explore the life and music of Carlos Chavez

Carlos Chávez was both a rebel and an educator. Born in a Mexico on the brink of revolution, he would go on to single-handedly revolutionise Mexican music and culture, filling his compositions with indigenous Aztec stories and sounds. Many cite Aaron Copland as an influence on Chávez, but the truth may have been the reverse. While Copland was championing American music in the States, Chávez was fighting for it in Mexico, educating the next generation of Mexican composers. He may have shaped American music more than any other - yet his legacy is little known. Odaline de la Martinez joins Donald Macleod to explore his life and work.

Music Featured:

Three Pieces for Guitar
Sexteto para Arcos y Piano: III. Andante & IV. Finale
Los Cuatro Soles
Chapultepec "Republican Overture"
Poligonos
Tres Exagonos
Otros Tres Exagonos
Energia
Suite de Caballos de Vapor: I. Danza del hombre, II. El barco, III. El tropico
Soli I
Soli II
Sinfonia India
Xochipilli
Toccata for Percussion Instruments
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
Sinfonia Romantica: III. Finale
Symphony No 5: I. Allegro molto moderato, molto lento
Tambuco for Percussion
Symphony No 6: III. Passacaglia con anima
String Quartet No 2
Huapango
Soli IV

Presented by Donald Macleod
Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio Wales and West

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Carlos Chávez (1899-1978) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001q746

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z