Intermezzo by M. M. Ponce (arr. for viola and piano -J. Camacho)

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    Manuel María Ponce (1882-1948), is one of the most recognized Mexican composers, considered the father of nationalism in this Latin American country; he was a pianist, composer, director, pedagogue, and folklorist. He was born in the city of Fresnillo, Zacatecas, on December 8, 1882. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to the city of Aguascalientes, where they were originally from. He receives his first piano lessons from his sister María del Refugio, Ponce composed his first piano piece at the age of 9, La Marcha del Sarampión (The measles march), (Pareyón, 2007). In 1901 he entered the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico and in 1904 he undertook a trip to Europe where he would reside in some cities studying piano and composition. Upon his return to Mexico, in 1907, Ponce settled in Aguascalientes, and the following year he joined the National Conservatory of Music as a professor of piano and music history.

    Intermezzo No. 1 is an original piano work, written in a traditional Romantic style, influenced by the Intermezzi tradition of Brahms and Schumann, although its mode also recalls Mendelssohn's Song Without Words (Ramírez, 2018). It is not known precisely in what year it was written, but some authors place it around 1920. This piece is not part of a work, it can be considered an independent work. It is one of Ponce's best-known works and the work was dedicated to Adolfo de la Peña Gil, who was one of his publicists.

Original version for piano.

    Although this work is not original for viola, the present arrangement has very well combined the sonorities of the viola with the piano. We can say that this piece is written in an ABA ternary form, the introduction begins with the viola and the piano combined to give way to the first theme that the viola will do, and then the piano will follow. In the central part before moving on to the recapitulation, the viola is left alone in a kind of "Cadenza" for a few bars, in a freeway (ad libitum). It is worth highlighting this arrangement by the young composer Jorge Camacho, who, combining the themes between both instruments, neither the piano nor the viola is accompaniment, both are distributing the parts, making this work pleasant to the listener. This arrangement was premiered at the end of last year.

    This recording is beautifully performed by violist Maddy Nicolescu and pianist Alexis Aranda. Maestra Nicolescu is a renowned violist from Romania, involved in chamber, orchestra, and opera music projects, a member of the Aurora Quartet and the Orquesta del Teatro de Bellas Artes, you can learn more about her work on her website https: //www.maddynicolescu.com/. For his part Alexis Aranda is a Mexican pianist and composer, he studied at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico and at the Padua Conservatory in Italy, his works have been performed in the United States, Europe, Argentina, and Peru, you can know his work on his page https://www.facebook.com/alexisarandacompositor/about.

Thanks for reading and see you soon with more viola music by Mexican composers!

Luis Angel Chab Dzul.

PS. You can find a general list of works for viola by Mexican composers on the page https://lavioladesdemexico.wixsite.com/luischab

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Pareyón, G (2007). Diccionario de la Música en México. Universidad Panamericana.

Ramirez, L (2018). An Analytical Comparison of Manuel M. Ponce's Intermezzo no. 1 y no. 2.