he Living Composers Project

Elías, Manuel de (b. June 5, 1939, Mexico City). Mexican composer of mostly stage, orchestral, chamber, choral, vocal, and piano works that have been successfully performed throughout the Americas and in Europe; he is also active as a conductor.

He also attended conducting classes with Edgard Doneux, Luis Herrera de la Fuente and Ernst Huber-Contwig, piano classes with Bernard Flavigny and Gerhart Kämper, electronic music classes with Jean-Étienne Marie (1967-68), and new music classes with Karlheinz Stockhausen (1968). He studied at the Escuela de Filosofía y Letras at the Universidad de Guanajuato in the late 1960s and worked at the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center in 1974, on an invitation from Alfredo Del Mónaco.

He has received the Medalla Mozart (1991) and the Premio Nacional de Ciencias y Artes (1992) and his Sonante No. 11, 'Bosquejos de una ofrenda', was the selected work at the Tribuna Musical de América Latina y el Caribe (1995). Most recently, he received the Diploma al Mérito Artístico from the Instituto Superior de Arte, for his entire oeuvre (2001).

He has been a member of the Sociedad Mexicana de Musicología since 1990, of the Académico de Número of the Academia de Artes since 1991 and of the Sistema Nacional de Creadores (in which he is now a Creador Emérito) since 1993. He became a member of the Consejo Consultivo del Festival Internacional Cervantino in 2001 and was made an honorary member of the Unión Nacional de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba in 2001, a rare accomplishment for a non-Cuban.

He is also active in other positions. He founded the Orchestra de Camera Santa Cecilia (1959), the chamber orchestra Amigos de la Música (1960) and the Escuela de Música at the Universidad de Guanajuato and the Grupo Experimental de Música de Cámara at the Escuela de Música de Guanajuato (1965, of which he was also the director). In addition, he was a member of the Grupo Proa for avant-garde composers in the mid-1960s. He also organized the Festival Debussy (1968), worked at the Laboratorio de Música Electrónica at the Conservatorio Nacional de Música (1971) and founded the Instituto de Música at the Universidad Veracruzana (1975, which he also led from 1975-80).

In addition, he founded the Iniciación Musical Infantil courses (1975, now known as the Centro de Iniciación Musical Infantil), the Coro del Instituto de Música (1975, now the Coro de la Universidad Veracruzana), the Orquesta Sinfónica de Veracruz (1980), and the Orquesta Filarmónica de Jalisco (1988). Most recently, he founded the Consejo Mexicano de la Música, which is a member of the UNESCO Music Council (1995, for which he served as president from 1995-98). In addition, he organized the Foro de Compositores del Caribe (1999), served as president of the jury of the Tomás Luis de Victoria Prize (2000) and founded the Colegio de Compositores Latinoamericanos de Música de Arte (2000).

Though initially a pianist, he served as assistant director of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Guanajuato from 1964-68 and to Luis Herrera de la Fuente at the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional in 1968. He ceased his activities as a pianist to devote his time to composing and teaching in the late 1960s and later went to Brussels on an invitation from Edgard Doneux, with whom he helped to conduct the Chamber Orchestra of the BRTN until 1975. He served as artistic director of the Primer Festival Internacional de Música in Xalapa in 1976.

He served as Director-General of the Área de Artes at the Universidad Veracruzana from 1982-84 and toured Poland as a conductor of various orchestras. He served as artistic director of the Orquesta de Cámara of the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes from 1984-86 and conducted the Orquesta Sinfónica de Guadalajara in 1987 and the Orquesta Filarmónica de Jalisco from 1988-90.

During the mid-to-late 1960s, he taught chamber music, composition and piano at the Escuela de Música de Guanajuato. He launched a large academic reformation of the Conservatorio de las Rosas in Morelia in 1990, of which he served as Director-General in 1990-91. He served as director of the Coordinación Nacional de Música y Ópera at the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes from 1991-93.

CONTACT INFORMATION

E-mail address: madeli65@prodigy.net.mx or made_elias@yahoo.com.mx

Street address: Mr. Manuel de Elías, Cerro de la Luz 199, Col. Romero de Terreros, Coyoacán, CP 04310, Mexico, D.F.

Telephone: + 5255 5659 9505

Fax: + 5255 5659 9506

COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS

STAGE: Jahel (ballet music), piano 4 hands, 1964 (also version for orchestra, 1967); La Laguna (incidental music, play by Eugène Ionesco), 1965; la vida es sueño (incidental music, play by Pedro Calderón de la Barca), 1965; A la Seca (incidental music, play by Armando Olivares), children's chorus, 1966; Medea (incidental music, play by Euripides), 1981; Los últimos (incidental music, play by Maksim Gorky), 1982; La ley de Creon (incidental music, play by Olga Hármony), 1983

ORCHESTRAL: Danza, piano, string orchestra, 1957; Estampas infantiles, youth string orchestra, 1959; Sinfonietta, 1958-61; Vitral No. 1, small orchestra (12 players), 1962; Guanajuato, 1964; In Memory of Ben Selekman, small orchestra, 1967; Elegía heroica, 1967; Speculamen, string orchestra, 1967 (version of chamber work); Vitral No. 3, 1969; Sonante No. 1, 1970 (lost); Sonante No. 4, 1971 (lost); Sonante No. 2, 1971; Sonante No. 5, 1972; Sonante No. 6, 'Homenaje de Neruda', string orchestra, 1973 (also version for string quartet, double bass); Concertante, violin, orchestra, 1973; Sonante No. 3, youth orchestra, 1974; Sonante No. 7, 1974; Concertante, piano, orchestra, 1975 (incomplete); Sonante No. 8, 1977; Sonante No. 9, 1978; Adagio, string orchestra, 1983; Balada concertante, trombone, 4 percussion, string orchestra, 1983; Lírica breve, piano, timpani, string orchestra, 1984; Mictlán-Tlatelolco, string orchestra, 1985-86; Cartas de primavera, string orchestra, 1986; Poema, string orchestra, 1988; Concierto, cello, orchestra, 1990; Concierto de cámara, viola, percussion, string orchestra, 1992; Sinfonía para los más jóvenes, 1993; Resonancias cardenches, small orchestra, 1994; Introducción y Adagio sostenuto, small orchestra, 1994; Sonante No. 11, 'Bosquejos de una ofrenda', 1995; Mutatis Mutandis, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, 2 French horns, string orchestra, 1999; Concierto Coyoacanense, guitar, orchestra, 1999; Sonante No. 12, 2001-02; Conmemoraciones, 2003; Meditativo y tema variado, small orchestra, 2003

CHAMBER MUSIC, 1950s-70s: Movimiento, violin, piano, 1956; Suite de miniaturas, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, 1957; Humoresca, flute, oboe, clarinet, 1957; Tres Danzas, recorder, 1960-61; Tres Movimientos breves, 4 recorders, 1962; Preludio, viola, piano, 1962; Elegía, viola, piano, 1962; Preludio, viola, 1962; Fantasía, cello, 1962; Elegía, clarinet, 1962; Impresiones sobre una Estampa Colonial, 2 alto recorders, tenor recorder, violin, viola, cello, harpsichord, timpani, 1962-63; Divertimento, 10 percussion, 1963; Ciclos elementarios, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, 1965; Diálogo, cello, piano, 1965; Cuarteto de cuerdas No. 1, 'Trágico', string quartet, 1967; Speculamen, 2 violins, 2 violas, 2 celli, double bass, 1967 (also version for string orchestra); Sonata No. 1, violin, 1968; Experiencias No. 3, any 5 improvisational players, 1968; Aforismo I, flute, 1968; Nimyé, flute, 1969; Sonata No. 2, violin, 1969; Parámetros No. 1, synthesizer, 1971; Sonante No. 6, ‘Homenaje de Neruda’, string quartet, double bass, 1973 (version of orchestral work); Juego a cinco, bassoon, French horn, 2 trumpets, percussion, 1975; Sine nomine, piano, string quartet, 1975; Preludio, violin, 1975; Preludio, viola, 1976; Aforismo, double bass, 1976; To play playing, flute, 1976; Imago, clarinet, 1977

CHAMBER MUSIC, 1980s-2000s: Tla oc toncuicacan, 2 recorders, percussion, echo chamber ad libitum, 1980; Concertante a doce, flute, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, French horn, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, timpani, 1983; Interpolaciones, flute, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, 1983; Aria olvidada y variación, oboe, 1983; Concertante a cinco, flute, oboe, violin, cello, piano, 1986; Aforismo 'a Manuel Enríquez', violin, 1986; Juego a dos, flute, bassoon, 1987; Introducción, fanfarria y danza, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, 3 percussion ad libitum, 1987; Monólogo, violin, 1989; Praeludium, violin, 1989; Fax music 1, flute, 1990; Fax music 2, piccolo, 1990; Fax music 3, alto flute, 1990; Fax music 4, oboe, 1990; Fax music 5, English horn, 1990; Fax music 6, oboe d’amore, 1990; Tri-neos (trio no. 1), clarinet, bassoon, piano, 1991; Wendyana, bassoon, piano, 1992; Diálogo fantástico para doce cuerdas, 2 guitars, 1992; Siete Preludios, guitar, 1955-93; Pensamiento, flute, 1994; Tríptico, 'Homenaje a Shostakovich', cello, 1995; Tri-tonos (trio no. 2), clarinet, bassoon, piano, 1996; Homérica, cello, 1996; Música a Siete, flute (+ piccolo, alto flute), clarinet (+ E-flat clarinet), violin, viola, cello, piano, timpani, 1996; Lectura, B-flat trumpet, 1997; Volátil, piccolo, 2002

CHORAL: Pequeños corales (texts from the Book of Psalms), mixed chorus, 1954; Villancico (text by the composer), mixed chorus, 1956; Canción de Navidad (text by the composer), female chorus, piano/organ, 1958; Credo, mixed chorus, 1962; Aforismo (text by Rabindranath Tagore), mixed chorus, 1963; Pájaros perdidos (text by Rabindranath Tagore), mixed chorus, 1963; Kyrie y Gloria, mixed chorus, 1966; Memento (text by Armando Olivares), speaker, mixed chorus, 4 recorders, string orchestra, 1967; Ludus (text by the composer), 3 mixed choruses, 1972-73; Obertura-Poema (text by Netzahualcóyotl), soprano, tenor, mixed chorus, organ, symphonic band, 1975; Primero sueño (text by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz), soprano, baritone, 2 speakers, 2 mixed choruses, orchestra, 1976; Los cuatro gatos (text from a popular children's round), 2 children's voices, youth chorus, 3 soprano recorders, melodica, 2 metallophones, 2 xylophones, any number of percussion (crotales, triangle, sound plate, claves, sonajas, maracas, güiro, tambourine, bass drum), youth orchestra, 1977; Estro 1 y 2 (text by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz), mixed chorus, 1978; A voces, mixed chorus, 1982-83; Sonante No. 10 (text by Netzahualcóyotl), mixed chorus, orchestra, 1984; Antífonas Profanas (text by Juan Rulfo), mixed chorus, 4 French horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, 2 percussion, 1993; Expresiones fugitivas (text by the composer), mixed chorus, 1987-94; Meditativo (text by the composer), mixed chorus, organ, 1999

VOCAL: Las erupciones (text by Salvador Díaz Mirón), alto, piano, 1959; Empiria, voice, 4 recorders, 1966; Pneuma (text by Gustavo Bossert), baritone, flute, oboe, French horn, cello, prepared piano (2 players), 1967; Misa de Consagración (text by the composer), mezzo-soprano, organ, orchestra, 1970; Siete Canciones para niños (text by the composer), soprano, piano, 1988; Canciones del ocaso (text by the composer), mezzo-soprano, piano, 1988 (also version for mezzo-soprano, orchestra, 1992); Vocalise, baritone, 1994; Arrullo íntimo (text by the composer), mezzo-soprano, celesta, crotales, 1998; Salmodia, mezzo-soprano, 2003; Foi mudando, mudando (cantata breve, text by Jorge de Lima), baritone, soprano saxophone (+ bass saxophone), piano, percussion, 2003-04

PIANO: Motivos infantiles, 1956; Nocturno, 1957; Vals triste, 1957; Tres Hojas de álbum, 1957; Preguntas y respuestas, 1958; Sonata breve, 1958; Preludio, 1961; Cinco Preludios, 1955-62; Nocturno, 1962; Pastoral, 1966; Ronda, 1966; Microestructuras, 1966; Melodía, 1966; Un pretexto y veinte abstracciones, 1967; Quimeras No. 1, 2 pianos, 1969; Sonante No. 1, 1970; Quimeras No. 2, 2 pianos, 1973; Quimeras No. 3, 2 pianos, 1974; Pequeño vals para una línea y un piano, 1975; Dos pequeños estudios, 1977; Veinticuatro aforismos, 1987; A manera de enhorabuena, 2001

ORGAN: Preludio elegíaco, 1958; Canción de cuna, 1960; Kaleidoscopio I, 1969; Kaleidoscopio II, 1973; Kaleidoscopio III, 1974; Ecce Lignum Crucis, 1990; Mutaciones, 1995 (version of harpsichord work); Tema quasi preludio, 1996; Ludus Guanajuatensis, antique organ, 2002

HARPSICHORD: Mutaciones, 1977 (also version for organ)

ELECTROACOUSTIC: Vitral No. 2, tape, 1967; Pro pax, tape, 1968; Aforismo II, tape, 1968; Non Nova Sed Novo, tape, 1974

ARRANGEMENTS: Suite de 'Música Acuática' (George Frederic Handel), small orchestra, 1973; Nobody knows the trouble I've seen (Negro spiritual), mixed chorus, 1978; Psyché (César Franck), orchestra, 1979; Navidad Michoacana (7 popular pieces), children's chorus, 1990; Melodía and Pastoral (Alfonso de Elías), violin, orchestra, 1991 (also version for violin, string orchestra, 1993); Romanian Folk Dances (Béla Bartók), 2 oboes, 2 French horns, string orchestra, 1993; Misa Santa Cecilia (Ramiro Luis Guerra), mixed chorus, orchestra, 1993; Dos Madrigales (Alfonso de Elías), soprano, string orchestra, 1994; Verklärte Nacht (Arnold Schoenberg), flute, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 French horns, string orchestra, 1997; Cinco Canciones para niños (Silvestre Revueltas), guitar, string orchestra, 1999

DIDACTIC MUSIC: Canción Indígena, violin, piano ad libitum, 1982; Alfa, string orchestra, 1996

FILM SCORE (DIRECTOR): Techos, small orchestra, 1976 (unknown)

MULTIMEDIA: Secuencias urbanas, specially-designed fountains, 1973

(Last updated on July 8, 2004)