Mexican Overture

This piece was inspired by a Mexican Song which I identified with Mexico since my childhood: “El Rey”. It is structured by short fragments to be played continuously and each refers to a line of the song.
The opening Allegro Lacrimoso refers to the text “Llorar y llorar”. The block of chord in fourths of the brass and strings are coloured by a series arpeggios in the woodwinds and piano, creating a texture almost impressionistic. The phrase “Una piedra en el camino” inspired the Danzón Litológico which is homage to the Mexican composer Arturo Márquez. The tropical cadence of the Danzón accelerates into a Presto Sabio which refers to “después me dijo un arriero”, then it returns to the Danzón Litológico, this time played by the violins.
The piece turns into a 6/8 bar on the Allegretto Vencedor, using Mexican folkloristic rhythms. This was inspired by the phrase “no hay que llegar primero sino hay que saber llegar”. The slow section Andante Argento refers to “con dinero o sin dinero” and has a very melancholic tune which begins with woodwind solos and it is later taken by the strings. The final section is the Presto Monarquico in 6/8 which reminds us of the title of the song “El Rey”.