Danzas Latinoamericanas (version for two violas) By José Elizondo

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    Happy new year 2022! This week, we will listen to a work in its version for two violas, by the Mexican composer José Elizondo. Maestro Elizondo studied Music and Electrical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as well as at Harvard University, where he studied music analysis, orchestration, and conducting. His main teachers have been Peter Child, Edward Cohen, Lowel Lindgren, Bill Cutter, Yames Yanattos, Constance DeFotis and Jameson Marvin. His production includes symphonic, choral, and chamber music, which has been performed around the world by prominent musicians such as Yo-Yo Ma, Carlos Prieto, Andrei Ionita, Benedict Klöckner, Guy Johnston, Alvaro Bitrán, Gustavo Martín, Juan Antonio Santoyo, and José María López Prado, to name a few. Similarly, his music has been performed on historic instruments such as Stradivarius violins and cellos, a Tecchler cello, and a Rugeri cello.

    Latin American Dances is a work that was commissioned by cellist Carlos Prieto, which consists in three movements and each of them is based on a dance from Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico.

The composer mentions for each movement the following:

        -Otoño en Buenos Aires, is based on the tangos of Astor Piazzolla and the songs of Carlos Gardel.

    -Pan de Azucar, this movement is named after the famous rock located in Rio de Janeiro; evokes the sensual music of Antonio Carlos Jobim and the vitality of Heitor Villa-Lobos.

        -Atardecer Tapatío, is inspired by the music of Mexican folklore and the sound of the mariachi. It is a tribute to the composer's homeland.

    Each one of these dances really transports us to the different countries for which it was composed, all the versions have been adapted to different instruments, thinking about its sound possibilities and comforts; these dances can be played individually each movement for a concert. Other versions of this work are for viola and piano, for violin and viola, and others.

    It is worth highlighting the interpretation in this video of the violists Eva and Laura Vicic, who achieved a set full of colors and with which we can appreciate well the sounds of the violas.

    Furthermore, it is important to mention that it is not the only work for viola by maestro Elizondo, on his website  www.joseelizondo.com we can find his complete works and even the scores, they can be programmed in concerts under the only condition of telling him that his work will be interpreted.

Thank you for reading! See you soon to continue learning more viola music by Mexican composers.

Luis Angel Chab Dzul.

P.S. On the page http://lavioladesdemexico.wixsite.com/luischab you can find a general list of works for viola that have been written by Mexican composers.