Copland does Mexico (and Mexico does Copland)

Synopsis

On today’s date in 1937, in Mexico City, Mexican composer and conductor Carlos Chavez conducted the first performance of this music by Aaron Copland.

The music owes its existence to Copland’s friendship with Chavez, which led to Copland visiting Mexico in 1932. Copland and Chavez paid a visit to a wild Mexico City Dance Hall called El Salón México. Quoting a guide-book description of the place in his memoirs, Copland noted its “Three halls: one for people dressed up, one for people dressed in overalls but shod, and one for the barefoot.” A sign on a wall over the dance floor read: “Please don't throw lighted cigarette butts on the floor so the ladies don’t burn their feet!”

“In some inexplicable way, while milling about in those crowded halls, I felt a live contact with the Mexican people — their humanity, their shyness, their dignity and unique charm. I remember quite well that it was at such a moment I conceived the idea of composing a piece about Mexico and naming it El Salón México,” Copland recalled.

Five years later Chavez conducted Copland's music in Mexico City. Copland admits he was nervous about how Mexican audiences would react. He had little to fear — Chavez and the musicians loved it, and so did the local critics, who called it “as Mexican as the music of Revueltas,” which at the time, says Copland, was like saying, “as American as the music of Gershwin.”

Music Played in Today's Program

Aaron Copland (1900-1990): El Salón México; New Philharmonia; Aaron Copland, conductor; CBS/Sony 46559

On This Day

Births

• 1886 - English light music composer, Eric Coates, in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire

• 1886 - English-born American composer and viola player Rebecca Clarke, in Harrow

• 1944 - Australian composer Barry Conyngham, in Sydney

Deaths

• 1521 - Flemish composer Josquin Des Prez, 81, in Condé-sur-Escaut

• 1611 - Spanish composer Tomas Luis de Victoria, 62, in Madrid

Premieres

• 1748 - Rameau: opera-ballet Pygmalion, in Paris;

• 1900 - Fauré: Prométhée, in Béziers, France;

• 1937 - Copland: El Salón México, in Mexico City, with Carlos Chávez conducting;

• 1940 - Meredith Wilson: Symphony No. 2 (The Missions of California) during a San Francisco Symphony concert on Treasure Island conducted by the composer. On the same program was the premiere of Wilson’s Prelude to 'The Great Dictator’ (based on Wilson’s film score to the Charlie Chapin film, whose musical themes were provided by Chaplin himself).

• 1979 - Bernstein: song Piccola Serenata (for Karl Böhm’s 80th Birthday), at Salzburg Festival, with mezzo-soprano Christa Ludwig and pianist James Levine

Others

• 1734 - Handel and John Rich agree to hold the next opera season of Handel’s Royal Academy at Rich’s Covent Garden Theater in London (Gregorian date: Sept. 7)