We wish all our Mexican friends a happy national holiday. September 16th commemorates the uprising against the Spanish crown, which paved the way for the country's independence. Created in partnership with Warner Music's local team, Sonorous Mexico pays tribute to the country's vibrant musical tradition.
Although very little is known about indigenous music due to the scarcity of available sources, we do know that it influenced the music of Europeans sent from the metropolis during the colonial period, working as kapellmeisters in newly erected cathedrals, such as Hernando Franco and Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla. During the Baroque period, a local school flourished, still heavily influenced by Europe but with its own distinctive character, thanks to composers born in Mexico such as Manuel de Zumaya and Ignacio de Jerusalem, to whom Chanticleer has paid tribute.
Finally, the early 20th century saw a flowering of great talents, foremost among them Carlos Chávez, Silvestre Revueltas and, of course, Manuel Ponce, undoubtedly the most famous for his international hit Estrellita and his numerous compositions for guitar (performed here by Eliot Fisk, Óscar Cáceres and Andrés Segovia). We have also included works inspired by the country, such as Copland's El salón México and Purcell's The Indian Queen.
