Arturo Rodríguez
Mosaico Mexicano
Short instrumentation: 3 3 3 2 - 4 3 3 1, timp, perc(6), hp, str
Duration: 11'
Instrumentation details:
1st flute
2nd flute
3rd flute (+picc)
1st oboe
2nd oboe
3rd oboe (+c.a)
1st clarinet in Bb
2nd clarinet in Bb
3rd clarinet in Bb (+bass cl)
1st bassoon
2nd bassoon
1st horn in F
2nd horn in F
3rd horn in F
4th horn in F
1st trumpet in C
2nd trumpet in C
3rd trumpet in C
bass trombone
1st trombone
2nd trombone
tuba
timpani
percussion (6 players)
harp
violin I (14 players)
violin II (12 players)
viola (10 players)
violoncello (8 players)
double bass (6 players)
Mosaico Mexicano
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Work introduction
A musical love letter to my home country of México, Mosaico Mexicano is a musical tour through different regions and times of my country. The work doesn't quote any existing traditional songs but it's filled with a variety of traditional styles and dances. It's also an homage to the Mexican music of the golden era of Mexican Cinema of the 40's and 50'. I conducted the premiere performance of Mosaico Mexicano in the year 2000 with the Texas Christian University Symphony Orchestra. Its professional premiere was in May 2000 with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Germán Gutiérrez. This work has traveled around the world in its symphonic and concert band versions and has been performed in venues like Carnegie Hall. The most recent performances were with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the Houston Symphony Orchestra both for "Día de los Muertos" concerts in November 2022. Most major orchestras in México have also performed this work. Based mostly in a lively northern huapango rhythms the work has an expressive middle section as a 'serenata' based on the 'bolero ranchero' style. After traveling through other traditional styles the northern huapango rhythm returned at the end for a rousing finale.