Role

:

Composer

Death

:

February 13, 2011

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Manuel Esperón was a Mexican composer who is best known for his contributions to the Mexican film industry. He was born on August 3, 1911, in Mexico City, Mexico. Esperón grew up in a musical family, and his father was a violinist. He began playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. Esperón studied music at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City, where he learned to play the violin, piano, and guitar. He also studied composition with the renowned Mexican composer Carlos Chávez. Esperón's early compositions were influenced by Mexican folk music, and he often incorporated traditional Mexican rhythms and melodies into his works. In the 1930s, Esperón began working in the Mexican film industry as a composer. He wrote music for a number of films, including "Allá en el Rancho Grande" (1936), which is considered one of the most important films in the history of Mexican cinema. The film's theme song, "Allá en el Rancho Grande," became a hit and is still popular in Mexico today. Esperón continued to work in the film industry throughout the 1940s and 1950s, composing music for over 200 films. He worked with some of the most famous Mexican film directors, including Emilio Fernández and Luis Buñuel. Esperón's music was an integral part of the Mexican film industry's "Golden Age," which lasted from the 1930s to the 1950s. One of Esperón's most famous compositions is the song "Cielito Lindo," which he arranged for the film "¡Ay, Jalisco, no te rajes!" (1941). The song has become an unofficial anthem of Mexico and is often played at sporting events and other public gatherings. Esperón also wrote the music for the film "Los Tres García" (1947), which featured the popular song "La Malagueña." Esperón's music was not limited to the film industry, however. He also wrote music for the theater and television. In the 1960s, he composed the music for the television series "El Derecho de Nacer," which was based on a popular Mexican radio soap opera. The series was a huge success and helped to establish Esperón as one of Mexico's most important composers. Esperón continued to compose music throughout his life, and he received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to Mexican music. In 1984, he was awarded the National Prize for Arts and Sciences in the Fine Arts category. He also received the Ariel de Oro, Mexico's highest film award, in 1993. Manuel Esperón died on February 13, 2011, at the age of 99. He left behind a legacy of music that continues to be celebrated in Mexico and around the world. His contributions to the Mexican film industry helped to establish it as one of the most important in the world, and his music has become an integral part of Mexican culture.

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