Role

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Composer

Birth

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1957 in Venezuela

 

César Alejandro Carrillo was a Mexican composer born on August 22, 1956, in Mexico City. He was the son of a renowned Mexican composer, César Carrillo, who was also a professor of music at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City. Carrillo grew up in a musical family and was exposed to music from a young age. He began playing the piano at the age of six and later learned to play the guitar and the violin. Carrillo's musical education began at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City, where he studied composition with his father. He later continued his studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in composition. While at UCLA, Carrillo studied with renowned composers such as Henri Lazarof, Paul Chihara, and David Raksin. Carrillo's music is characterized by its use of traditional Mexican music and its incorporation of contemporary techniques. His compositions often feature complex rhythms and harmonies, and he was known for his use of unconventional instruments such as the maracas and the conch shell. One of Carrillo's most famous works is his opera, "La Malinche," which premiered in 1991. The opera tells the story of the indigenous woman who served as an interpreter for Hernán Cortés during the Spanish conquest of Mexico. The opera was praised for its use of traditional Mexican music and its incorporation of contemporary techniques. Another notable work by Carrillo is his "Concerto for Maracas and Orchestra," which was premiered in 1995. The concerto features the maracas as the solo instrument and is characterized by its use of complex rhythms and harmonies. The piece was praised for its innovative use of the maracas and its incorporation of traditional Mexican music. Carrillo's other works include "Tres Danzas Mexicanas," "Cantos de la Tierra," and "Suite Mexicana." His music has been performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Mexico City Philharmonic, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico. In addition to his work as a composer, Carrillo was also a professor of music at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City. He was known for his dedication to teaching and his commitment to promoting Mexican music. Tragically, Carrillo passed away on January 13, 2019, at the age of 62. His death was a great loss to the world of music, and he will be remembered as one of Mexico's most important composers.

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