Blas Galindo

Blas Galindo Dimas (February 3, 1910 – April 19, 1993) was a Mexican composer.

Biography Born in San Gabriel, Jalisco, Galindo studied intermittently from 1931 to 1944 at the National Conservatory in Mexico City, studying with Carlos Chávez (composition), Candelario Huízar, José Rolón, and Manuel Rodríguez Vizcarra (piano). In 1934, he formed the Grupo de los cuatro with fellow composers Daniel Ayala, Salvador Contreras, and José Pablo Moncayo, seeking to use indigenous Mexican musical materials in art-music compositions .

In 1941, he was an assistant at the Berkshire Music Festival at Tanglewood, and studied under Aaron Copland at the Berkshire Music Center in 1941 and again in 1942, when his orchestral suite Arroyos was performed there (Stevenson 2001). Returning to Mexico in 1942, he became a professor of composition at the National Conservatory and in 1947 was named Director of the conservatory (a position which he held until 1961) as well as director of the music department of the National Institute of Fine Arts . From 1960 to 1965, he was music director for the Symphony of the Mexican Institute of Social Security .

In 1947, Galindo was named Chief of the Department for the National Institute of Fine Arts. In September 1947, Chávez named him Director of the National Conservatory of Music, a title he maintained until 1961. Before this appointment he began as a student at the Conservatory, later becoming a professor of many subjects including "harmony, counterpoint, musical analysis, history of music and composition." While at the Conservatory, Galindo also conducted the student orchestra, reformed the bylaws and built a new building. In August 1949, he was invited to be an adjudicator at the fourth Chopin piano competition in Warsaw. During this visit to Europe he travelled to seven countries to officially inspect schools of music .

In 1952, he married Ernestina Mendoza Vega. He became Director of Artistic Activities for the Mexican Social Security Institute (I.M.S.S.) in 1955 and in 1959 I.M.S.S. named him Chief of the Music Section of the Department of Social Services. In 1960, he began conducting the Social Security Institute's Symphony Orchestra. Galindo was a frequent attendee of music festivals and guest conductor of symphony orchestras. Also, he was a lecturer and editor of magazines, sometimes writing articles concerning music.

In 1960, he was able to focus on composition when he was awarded a "fellowship from the Secretary of Public Education". Galindo retired in 1965 and dedicated himself to his composition, writing some for pleasure and others for "commission". To do this, he would frequently "retreat from Mexico City to a house in the country for weeks at a time in order to immerse himself fully." To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the opening of the new building at the Conservatory, he directed the Conservatory orchestra and chorus in 1974. In July 1974, Galindo accompanied the President of Mexico with "a number of other intellectuals" to South America.

Galindo "constantly [fought] the problem of trying to have [his works] performed more than just once and the financial problems of having them published". R.P. Conant wrote of Galindo, "He would, however, like to write an opera or even a cycle of operas dealing with the life of Mexico, the agitated life of Mexico from the Aztec leader Cuauhtémoc through the leaders of Mexican independence like Morelos, Juárez, Zapata, and Cardenas" .

Awards "José Angel Lamas" prize from Secretary of Public Education; honor diploma from the Venezuelan Society of Authors and Composers; gold medal as "the best composer of the year"; diploma from the Municipality of Los Angeles, California; National Arts and Science Award for 1958–1964, presented by the President of the republic of Mexico, Adolfo Lopez Mateos

Works Galindo's compositions number over 150, and include works in a variety of styles and ensemble forces.

Orchestral 1940: Sones de Mariachi 1942: Concerto No. 1, for piano and orchestra 1945: Nocturno, for orchestra 1951: La Manda, ballet 1951: Suite from the ballet La manda 1952: Scherzo mexicano for string orchestra 1956: Sinfonía breve, for strings 1957: Symphony No. 2 1960: Concerto, for flute and orchestra 1961: Concerto No. 2, for piano and orchestra 1961: Symphony No. 3 1962: Concerto, for violin and orchestra 1973: Concertino. for electric guitar and orchestra 1984: Concerto, for cello and orchestra Homenaje a Cervantes, suite Letanía erótica Obertura mexicana no. 2, for piano and orchestra Poema de Neruda, for string orchestra Concerto, for flute and band Concerto, for guitar and band

Vocal works 1939: Jicarita 1939: Mi querer pasaba el río 1939: Paloma blanca 1946: Cantata a la Patria, cantata based on the poem Suave Patria by Ramón López Velarde, for mixed choir and orchestra 1947: Two Songs, for voice and piano 1947: Three Songs, for voice and piano (; ) 1948: Me Gusta Cuando Callas, after Pablo Neruda 1957: Cantata Homenaje a Benito Juárez 1965: Letania erótica para la paz, cantata on the poem by G. Álvarez 1975: Cinco canciones a la madre muerta, for voice and piano Dos Corazones for mixed choir Arrullo, for soloist and orchestra Canciones de Jalisco Madre mía cuando muera, for soprano and orchestra Segundo himno de Jalisco

Chamber music 1947: Sonata, for clarinet and piano 1948: Sonata, for cello and piano 1956: Sonata, for violin and piano 1961: Piano Quintet 1961: Suite, for violin and piano 1972: String Quartet

Solo piano 1935: La lagartija 1936: Suite No. 2 Impresión Caricatura de vals Jalisciense 1937: Sombra, Preludio 1937: Prelude 1938: Llano alegre 1939: Danzarina, waltz 1941: Fugue in C 1944: Allegro para una sonata 1944: Prelude 1945: Five Preludes 1945: Y ella estaba triste, Preludio 1952: Seven Pieces 1964-1973: Piezas infantiles 1976: Sonata 1987: Preludio No. 6

Cello Sonata for unaccompanied cello

Guitar Suplica de Amor

Film scores 1955 Raices