Silvestre Revueltas - Janitzio (1933)

Silvestre Revueltas Sánchez (December 31, 1899 - October 5, 1940) was a Mexican composer, violinist and conductor.

Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela conducted by Keri-Lynn wilson

He was born in Santiago Papasquiaro in Durango, and studied at the National Conservatory in Mexico City, St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas and the Chicago College of Music. He gave violin recitals and in 1929 was invited by Carlos Chávez to become assistant conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra (Mexico), a post he held until 1935. He and Chávez did much to promote contemporary Mexican music. It was around this time that Revueltas began to compose in earnest.

He was part of a family of artists, a number of whom were also famous and recognized in Mexico; his brother Fermín (1901 - 1935) and sister Consuelo (b. before 1908, d. before 1999) were painters, sister Rosaura (ca. 1909 - 1996) was an actress and dancer, younger brother José Revueltas (1914 - 1976), was a noted writer. His daughter from his second marriage, Eugenia (born November 15, 1934), is an essayist. His nephew Román Revueltas Retes, son of José, is a violinist, journalist, painter and conductor of the OSA ("Orquesta Sinfónica de Aguascalientes" in spanish). His daughter from his first marriage to Jules Klarecy (orig: Hlavacek), Romano Carmen (later Montoya and Peers), enjoyed a successful career as a dancer, taught ballet and flamenco in New York, and died on November 13, 1995, at age 73, in Athens, Greece. She is survived by three sons, and two kindred creative female heirs in Oceanside, CA.

He went to Spain and worked for the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War, but upon Francisco Franco's victory, returned to Mexico to teach. He earned little, and fell into poverty and alcoholism. He died in Mexico City on the day his ballet El renacuajo paseador, written four years earlier, was premièred.

He wrote film music, chamber music, songs and a number of other works. Among his orchestral music are a number of symphonic poems with Sensemayá: Chant for the Killing of a Snake (1938), based on a poem by Nicolás Guillén, the most famous. His music is often vigorous, rhythmically vital, and frequently has a distinctly Mexican flavour.

He appeared briefly as a bar piano player in the movie ¡Vámonos con Pancho Villa! (Mexico, 1935), for which he composed the music. When shooting breaks out in the bar while he is playing "La cucaracha", he holds up a sign reading "Se suplica no tirarle al pianista" (Please don't shoot at the piano player!).

Revueltas died of pneumonia (complicated by alcoholism) in Mexico City on October 5, 1940, at the age of 40. His remains are kept at the Rotonda de los Hombres Ilustres in Mexico City.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Silvestre
• Revueltas
• Janitzio
• 1933

[acuario1002]

Congratulations for adding Silvestre Revueltas to your wonderfull cannel. In my personal opinion he is the greatest mexican composer.

[fro631130]

Excelente Mexicano. Ojalá todos los ciudadanos en hicieramnos lo que nos toca hacer!

[tonificador]

@MRPMOSH4EVER ahuevo!

[MRPMOSH4EVER]

COMO OLVIDAR A JANITZIO, SI CUANDO SALI DE LA PREPA NOS FUIMOS DE VAGOS, TAMBIEN EN ESE LUGAR TUVE LA PEOR RESACA QUE RECUERDE...CHARANDA YA NO JAJAJAJA.

[marracoyita00]

@acuario1002 i agree, thank´s for post bartje 11.

[dechoix]

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