Carlos Chávez
Mexican composer, conductor, music theorist, journalist and teacher Carlos Antonio de Padua Chávez y Ramírez was born in Mexico City on 13 June 1899. Growing up, he learned to play the piano, ran the journal Gladios with his friends and was influenced by Mexican culture.
He was one of the first composers of Mexican nationalist music, and worked for the newspaper El Universal for thirty-six years, from 1924. He held a number of important positions - he was director of the Orquesta Sinfónica Mexicana and, for five years, director of the National Conservatory of Music. He published a book about new music and conducted the NBC Symphony Orchestra in a series of concerts. By 1945 he was the best known composer and conductor from Mexico.
He was director-general of the National Institute of Fine Arts from 1947 until 1952, and formed the National Symphony Orchestra. From 1970 until 1973 he was music director of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music.
He died in Mexico City on 2 August 1978, aged seventy-nine, leaving much music, including six symphonies.
A selection of articles about Carlos Chávez
Resounding Echoes by Robert McCarney - Heaven and Hell
CD Spotlight. A Particular Mexican Sensibility - Paul Sarcich is impressed by Mexican music recorded by Mr McFall's Chamber. '... a very interesting and well-presented disc.'
Ensemble. Intimately Done - Paul Sarcich was at the Echoes Festival's PanAmericana concert, which illustrated the cross-influence between North and South American music
CD Spotlight. Competent Performance - Music by Chávez, Moncayo and Zyman, heard by Andrew Schartmann. '... perhaps more important as a historical statement ...'