Silvestre Revueltas Sanchez, regarded as one of the most important figures in twentieth-century Mexican music, has established a classic position in the world of music. Along with Chavez, he was a teacher, violinist, director, and composer who helped develop Mexican music. He was a brilliant Mexican composer who created compositions that were completely unique, discordant, rhythmic, and charming. His love for his native Mexican music may be heard in his compositions, which typically have a particular Mexican flavor. This Mexican composer is most known for his energetic, organized music, and in his brief life, he established himself as an important figure in the modernist current. He only lived for four decades, yet throughout that time his music received worldwide acclaim. He taught at the National Conservatory of Music, where his musical language was once again praised. He also contributed to better the political situation in Spain throughout the war by sponsoring concerts and performances and using music as a weapon. He was a self-taught composer who produced a small but excellent body of work.
Childhood and Early Years
Silvestre Revueltas Sanchez was born on December 31, 1899, in the little hamlet of Santiago Papasquiaro, Durango, Mexico. He had an early interest in music as the oldest of twelve siblings who were all accomplished artists. One of his brothers was a well-known painter, while his sister was a well-known actress.
Revueltas received a violin as a gift from his father when he was five years old, and began studying it when he was eight years old. He studied at Mexico City’s National Conservatory of Music. Later, in 1917, he was forced to relocate to the United States owing to the disastrous chaos of the Mexican Revolution.
He went to St Edward College in San Antonio, Texas, to study. In 1919, he moved to Chicago to complete his studies and enrolled at the Chicago Musical College. He studied composition with Rafael J. Tello and violin with Jos Rocabruna. In 1924, he staged his first concert in Mexico with Carlos Chavez, and following a series of concerts in Mexico, he returned to his homeland and continued until 1929.
Silvestre Revuleta’s career
Revuleta’s career has previously been linked to music and events. In 1928, he conducted an orchestra in Mobile and then became the violin professor and then the assistant director of the Mexico Symphony Orchestra, where he remained until 1935. Even while he continued to teach and direct, he remained consumed with work and compositions. His political interests were also influenced by the tragedy of the Spanish Civil War.
After the war, he and his companions spent four months in Spain, performing concerts to improve the country’s political situation. On the 15th of December 1938, Revueltas directed the Symphony Orchestra of Mexico in the Palacio de Bellas Artes, where his work Sensemayá was a huge success.
It was written by Cuban Nicolás Guillén and was one of his most famous compositions. Working with Chavez, Revueltas was able to promote Mexican music by distributing a diverse assortment of songs by some of the era’s most prominent names.
His body of work exhibited uniqueness and freshness and was a significant contribution to the national Mexican symphonic poem at the time. He was granted a big position in music and requested to write music for films when his efforts were recognized. He developed as a skilled performer, giving solo performances in Mexican halls.
Silvestre Revuleta’s Contributions
In 1931-34, he composed six “picture-postcard” compositions for orchestra, which were ten-minute poetry inspired by Mexican settings. He worked for the Republicans while in Spain, but then returned to Mexico to resume teaching. Films, chamber music, songs, and other works were among his many accomplishments.
He received enormous acclaim for his orchestral music of symphonic poems with Sensemayá. He made his film debut as a bar pianist in Vámonos con Pancho Villa, for which he also created music. His output was limited, but it included pieces for symphony orchestra, two ballets, vocal music, and works for theatre and film.
He included folk derivations into all of his pieces without acknowledging authentic Mexican folk tunes. Cuauhnahuc (Cuernavaca) (1930), Esquinas (Corners) (1931), Ventanas (Windows) and Colorines (Coloured Beads) (1932), Janitzio (1933), Caminos (Roads) (1934), Homenaje a Federico Garca Lorca (Hommage to Federico Garca Lorca) (1936), Itinerarios (Routes) (1937), Sensemay ( (1938)
His Other Projects
Works for Orchestra
For orchestra, Caminos
For orchestra, Ventanas
Suite for orchestra, La Noche de los Mayas
Redes, orchestral suite
For chamber orchestra, Homenaje a Federico Garca Lorca
For orchestra, Sensemaya Janitzio
For chamber orchestra, Ochopor radio
Msicaparacharlar, an orchestral concert version of film score
For orchestra, itinerarios
Colorines is a chamber orchestra piece.
Chamber of Commerce
String Quartets Nos. 1 and 2 String Quartets Nos. 3
‘Msica de Feria’ is the fourth string quartet.
Pieces for violin and keyboard, TresPiezas
Allegro Piano Works, for piano
La Coronela, a ballet for orchestra (finished by Hernández Moncada) Stage Works
Film Redes, orchestral film score
Works for Voice
Song cycle for voice and chamber orchestra, Cinco Canciones para Nios y Dos Canciones Profanas (7)
Song cycle for voice and piano, Cinco Canciones para Nios y Dos Canciones Profanas (7)
His Popular Arrangements
The Sensemayá, which means “the chant to kill a snake,” was one of Revueltas’ most famous works. It is an intriguing poem based on Afro-Cuban religious cults written by Cuban poet Nicolás Guillén that elicits a chant while slaying a snake. Revueltas then created this poem in 1937, which was later updated in 1938 for an ensemble of 27 wind instruments, 14 pounding instruments, and strings.
This is believed to be his most famous composition, bringing him widespread acclaim both within and outside of his native country. With this song, he has demonstrated his extensive knowledge of Mexican music as well as the importance of rhythm. He dedicated this work jointly to two Cuban writers, Juan Marinello and Nicolás Guillén, adding to its greatness.
The Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Mexico collaborated on Sensemayá, which premiered on December 15, 1938 at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. This was one of the earliest subscription performances for the San Francisco Symphony.
Two flutes and two piccolos, two oboes and English horn, two clarinets plus E-flat clarinet and bass clarinet, four bassoons, four horns, four trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, xylophone, claves, maracas, rasping stick, gourd, a small Indian drum, bass drum, high and low tom-toms, suspended cymbal,
Silvestre Revuleta’s Death
In sad circumstances, his end came during the celebration of the success of La Noche de Los Mayas. His dance El renacuajopaseador had a late premiere in Mexico City on October 4, 1940. Instead of attending the event, Revueltas spent the evening drinking at his apartment before heading out in a revealing outfit despite the fact that the weather demanded more.
He was already suffering from a severe case of bronchial pneumonia, and this only made things worse. He had a bronchial attack on his way home and was brought to the hospital. Unfortunately, he passed away in Mexico City on October 5, 1940.
Estimated Net worth
Silvestre Revueltas makes the majority of his money as a successful composer. He is a Mexican national. Silvestre Revueltas’ net worth, money, salary, income, and assets have all been calculated. He has a net worth of $5 million.