The University of Arizona School of Music is turning its attention to Latin America in its seventh annual composers festival.
Director Daniel Asia, who teaches composition, has curated “Music + Festival 2014: Villa-Lobos, Ginastera, Chávez, Revueltas” around the “rich panorama of Latin American classical music” that focuses on some of the region’s most renowned composers.
A big swath of Latin America is represented from four prominent composers: Heitor Villa-Lobos (Brazil), Alberto Ginastera (Argentina), Carlos Chávez (México) and Silvestre Revueltas (Mexico).
In a news release, Asia said the four provide a context for contemporary Latin American composers much in the way that Ives and Copland laid the groundwork for the creation of distinctly American music.
Asia is getting some help this go-around with Odaline de la Martinez serving as festival co-director. De la Martinez brings some interesting twists to the event. Raised in Tucson and New Orleans, de la Martinez has a busy international career performing everything from Mozart symphonies to current contemporary music. She also was the first woman to conduct a BBC Promenade concert at the Royal Albert Hall, according to her bio.
The festival will be held Saturday and Sunday at various locations in the UA School of Music, North Park Avenue and East Speedway on the UA campus. The schedule:
Saturday: Concert featuring students and faculty members, 4 p.m., Holsclaw Hall. $10 with discounts. Program: Ginastera’s “Fanfare,” Ginastera’s “Toccata, Villancico/Fugue on B.A.C.H.” for organ, Villa-Lobos’s “Sexteto místico,” Ginastera’s “Duo for Flute and Oboe” and Villa-Lobos’s “Bachianas Brasileiras.” Also on the program: Carlos Chávez’s “Antígona,” Silvestre Revueltas’s “First Little Serious Piece” and “Second Little Serious Piece” and Villa-Lobos’s “Chôros,” No. 7.
- 7:30 p.m. Saturday, ensembles concert at Crowder Hall. $10 with discounts. The UA Percussion Group, Wind Ensemble, Festival Chamber Orchestra and Arizona Symphony will perform works including Carlos Chávez’s Toccata para instrumentos de percussión; Revueltas’s “Sensemayá,” “Homenaje a Federico García Lorca” and Suite from the film “Redes”; and Ginastera’s “Variaciones concertantes.”
Sunday: Guitar concert featuring UA Bolton Guitar Studio members, 2 p.m., Holsclaw Hall. $5. Program includes Ginastera’s “Sonata para guitarra”; Piazzolla’s Tango Suite and “Histoire du Tango,” for flute and guitar; and Villa-Lobos’s Guitar Concerto (arranged for two guitars).
- Faculty and student concert 4 p.m., Holsclaw Hall. $5. Works included Ginastera’s “Fanfare,” for four trumpets and Piano Sonata No. 1; Chávez’s “Adagio,” from Sonata for four horns; and Villa-Lobos’s “Bendita Sabedoria” with the Arizona Choir.
- 7 p.m., the Center for Creative Photography will show the 1936 Film “Redes” (The Waves) with music by Revueltas. Free.
For tickets, visit tickets.arizona.edu or call 621-1162.
