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