Search - Revueltas :: Sensemaya

Excellent Revueltas

127 | Michigan | 11/09/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Revueltas is rightfully being recorded more and more frequently these days, and this recording is an excellent account of his work. Up until now, most of Revueltas' recordings have featured his large orchestral works. This CD is different because it displays some of his smaller scale, lesser known pieces. With three exceptions, the pieces here are under four minutes. His music is still very rhythmic, creative, and compelling. The performers are all excellent, as is the recording quality.The best known Revueltas work is Sensemayá, which is heard here in a different version from the well known full orchestra setting. Since I had heard the longer version first, this version initially sounded somewhat clipped to me - as though it were missing something. I have since changed my mind and find this to be a similarly thrilling account - more so than some full orchestra readings. The playing and conducting are intense and excellent. Sensemayá is a thrilling piece to listen to and is even more thrilling to see performed live. Other excellent Sensemayá accounts have been given by Eduardo Mata, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Leonard Bernstein. There is a relatively lame account by Esa-Pekka Salonen that should be avoided.The notes are detailed and well written, including information on the numerous talented musicians who collaborated for this recording. If you already have one Revueltas CD, this will make a great second."

Wonderful music of the Mexican "Stravinsky"

127 | 07/30/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Silvestre Revueltas (1899-1940) is in many ways the Mexican Stravinsky. He uses harsh rhythms and tonalities, folk sounding melodies, and modern structures. He builds all of these things and many more into music that is totally unique. "Sensemaya' is the first recording of many of the works included, or as in the case of the title piece, and earlier version of a more well know composition. All of the tracks are wonderful and varied, with music going from small chamber ensembles to larger groups, and both vocals and instrumentals. If you only listen to one track, make it the last one, "Sensemaya". It is a purely musical setting of the poem by Nicolas Guillen describing the cermony for the killing of a serpent. There are two basic elements in the piece, the snake and the struggling of the priests to overcome it. The struggling music interupts more and more until it literally overpowers the snake motif, just as the ritual would progress in real life. In this piece, you can hear all of the wonderful qualities of Revueltas' music, especially his favorite - the struggle between life and death. In all, this is an excellent recording of some very unjustly overlooked music of an equally overlooked genius.I can also recommend two other recordings of Revueltas' music - "La Coronela,Itnerarios, and Colorines" conducted by Gisele Ben-Dor with the Santa Barbara Symphony (Koch 3-7421-2HI) and "Night of the Mayas" (Catalyst 09026-62672-2) which includes the closest thing Revueltas wrote to a symphony - "La Noches de los Maya", a 4 movement suite of a film score that covers every possible human emotion and almost every possible modern musical idea - including free percusion cadenzas! One desccription I have heard of this piece is Stravinsky after a bottle of Tequila! I liked the piece so much that my high school band is performing "Mayas" on the field this fall as our contest show. My students absolutly love the music! (remember, we're talking about HIGH SCHOOL students that only listen to pop on the radio!)Any recording of this master's work would be a welcome addition to a record collection, and "Sensemaya" would be an excellent place to start."