Pieces (3) for guitar

• Date: 1923
• Composer: Carlos Chávez
• Period: Modern (1910-1949)

Review

Carlos Chávez (1899-1978) was the leading Mexican composer, conductor, and musical administrator of the middle half of the twentieth century. Among the strains in his music is a deep interest in the music of the very different musical traditions of various Indian nations located in that large and geographically diverse country.

These three pieces, which were designated merely by their tempo markings, are not said to represent any specific indigenous music, although the rapid tempo changes of the final movement is reminiscent of the composer¹s "Sinfonía Índia," where it quotes music from the Sonoran Desert region. The work daringly imported features of Latin-American and Spanish popular music, like the strumming on several strings with one finger. It was rejected by Andrés Segovia and took some time to gain the support of guitar players. The first movement is ritualistic in flavor; the second is meditative and sometimes even mournful; the third is dance-like. Altogether the set takes about seven minutes. ~ Joseph Stevenson, Rovi

Albums with Complete Performances of the Work

Title	Date
300 Years of Guitar Masterpieces	1991
Carlos Chavez: Complete Chamber Music, Vol. 4	2006
De Oriente a Occidente: Musica del Siglo XX	2007
Favorites for Guitar	1994
In South American Twilight
Twentieth Century Music for Guitar	2003

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