Title
Two Mexican Pieces
For
orchestra
Year Composed
1965
Scoring
1.1.1.1-0.1.0.0-perc:xyl/conga dr/cyms/tgl/claves/wdbl/whip/rattle-2pft-strings
Category
Orchestral
Duration
8'
Movements
Premieres
  • 1. World: Washington, DC, April 20th, 1965 (Pan-American Union, cond. Copland)
  • 2. Partial: Spoleto, Italy, July, 1959 ("Danza" only)
Commission Info
Gian Carlo Menotti and the Fondazione Festival Dei Due Mondi Spoleto, for the Spoleto Festival
Publishing Status
Withdrawn

Program Note

The music of Latin America had a particular appeal for Copland. He composed two dances that when put together became Two Mexican Pieces. Later, he added a third and changed the title to Three Latin American Sketches. Copland wrote, "The tunes, the rhythms, and the temperament of the pieces are folksy, while the orchestration is bright and snappy and the music sizzles along — or at least it seems to me that it does."

Author
Vivian Perlis
Year
1998