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The Night of the Mayas
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Wikipedia article
'The Night of the Mayas' (Spanish: 'La noche de los mayas') is a 1939 Mexican film. It was directed by Chano Urueta. The film, which is called a "Mexican tragedy" set in the times of the Mayas, is remembered today for its musical score by the Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas.
Cast
* Arturo de Crdova as Uz
* Stella Inda as Lol
* Isabela Corona as Zev
* Luis Alds as Miguel
* Miguel ngel Ferriz Sr. as Yum Balam
* Rodolfo Landa as Taz
* Daniel (Chino) Herrera as Apolonio
* Rosita Gasque as Pil
* Max Langler as HMen, hombre sabio
* Jacoba Herrera as Nuc, anciana
* Ch. Snchez as Chumn
Music
The music is best known in arrangements for the concert hall, although the composer did not live to make such an arrangement himself.
Concert suites
In 1946 the German composer Paul Hindemith made a visit to Mexico where he met Rosaura Revueltas, sister of Silvestre. This led to his concert arrangement in two movements.There is a later arrangement by (19191976) in four movements. It is scored for larger forces than Hindemith's version and includes a large percussion section.Kolb Neuhaus, Roberto. "[http://www.sibetrans.com/trans/public/docs/15-trans-2014_1.pdf 'La noche de los mayas': crnica de una performance de otredad extica]". 'Trans' (Revista Transcultural de Msica), no. 18 (October 2014) (accessed 16 July 2017).
Recordings
The version by Hindemith was recorded by the Tempus Fugit Orquesta conducted by Christian Gohmer, and released by Quindecim Records in 2014.'Silvestre Revueltas: La noche de los Mayas: versin de Paul Hindemith; Juan Trigos: Concierto no. 2 (Hispano): para guitarra y orquesta', Ral Zambrano (guitar), Tempus Fugit Orquesta, Christian Gohmer (cond.); recorded at Sony Music, Mexico City 1012 June 2013. CD recording. Quindecim
CDQP239. Mexico: Quindecim Recordings, 2014.
Limantour was recorded conducting the Orquesta Sinfnica de Guadalajara.Silvestre Revueltas, 'Musica para charlar'; 'La noche de los Mayas'. Orquesta Sinfnica de Guadalajara; Jos Yves Limantour (cond.). Musart MCD 3022 (LP). Mexico City: Discos Musart. Later recordings include one by the Orquesta Sinfnica Simn Bolvar, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, which was released on Deutsche Grammophon in 2010.'[http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/cat/4778775 Rite: Stravinsky/Revueltas]'. Simn Bolvar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, Gustavo Dudamel (cond.) CD recording. Deutsche Grammophon 0289 477 8775 4.
References
Further reading
*Lienhard, Martin. "'La Noche de Los Mayas': Indigenous Mesoamericans in Cinema and Literature, 19171943", translated by Peter Cooke and Philip Derbyshire. 'Journal of Latin American Cultural Studies' 13, no. 1 (2004): 3596.
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