Manuel Maria Ponce- Classical

Mexican Composer:

Manuel Maria Ponce (December 8, 1882-April 24, 1948) was a famed Classical Mexican composer.  Ponce first received training from his older sister at the age of four.  He then began singing in the Children’s Choir of the Templo de San Diego.  He wrote his first composition, “The Dance of the Measles,” at the age of five.  He later studied at the Conservatorio Nacional in Mexico City and then went on to study all over Europe.  After returning from Europe, he became a professor at the ConservatorioNacional and the Universidad NacionalAutomoma.  From his European training, his music shows major influence from Bach’s Counterpoint and Mexican Mestizo music.  Ponce spent his early career composing, conducting, teaching and writing music criticism.

Ponce is most well-known for the creation of a Mexican nationalistic style, although he lived in Cuba from 1915-1917 during the Mexican Revolution. Shortly before his passing, Ponce received the National Arts and Science prize in 1948.

Discography of Works:

Manuel María Ponce: Concierto para piano y orquesta (Ponce on piano; Orquesta Sinfónica de México; conducted by Carlos Chávez) (Radio Mil, 1942) [1][2]
Canciones populares mexicanas, La pajarera, Por ti mi Corazon, La valentina
Sonata mexicana (1925)
Thème varié et Finale (1926)
Sonata III (1927)
Sonata clásica (1928)
Sonata romántica (1929)
Suite en la Mineur (1929)
Variations and Fugue on 'La Folia' (1929)
Valse (1937)
Sonatina meridional (1939)
Variations on a Theme of Cabezón (1948)
Dos Vinetas' (post-humous)

Bibliography:

Patykula, John. "Manuel Maria Ponce." Guitarra Magazine. Guitarra Magazine, n.d. Web. 22 Jun 2012. <http://www.guitarramagazine.com/ManuelPonce>.

Smeets, Jos. "Manuel Maria Ponce." Classical Composers Database.Quixote, 16 12 2004.Web. 6 Jul 2012. <http://www.classical-composers.org/comp/ponce>.