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Antonio Flores Castro was a Mexican composer and pianist who was born on August 10, 1907, in Mexico City. He was the son of a prominent lawyer and politician, and his family was well-connected in Mexican society. From a young age, Castro showed a talent for music, and he began studying piano with his mother at the age of four. Castro's musical education continued at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City, where he studied piano with Carlos Chávez and composition with José Rolón. He also studied with the French composer Darius Milhaud, who was visiting Mexico at the time. Milhaud's influence can be heard in Castro's early works, which are characterized by a neoclassical style and a use of Mexican folk music. In 1930, Castro traveled to Paris to study with the composer Nadia Boulanger. Boulanger was one of the most influential music teachers of the 20th century, and her students included Aaron Copland, Philip Glass, and Quincy Jones. Under Boulanger's guidance, Castro developed a more modernist style, incorporating elements of atonality and serialism into his music. Castro's early works include a number of piano pieces, such as his Suite Mexicana and his Sonata No. 1. These works are characterized by a lively rhythm and a use of Mexican folk melodies. Castro also wrote a number of orchestral works, including his Symphony No. 1 and his Suite Sinfónica. These works show the influence of Milhaud and other neoclassical composers, with their use of clear, concise melodies and a lively, dance-like rhythm. In the 1940s, Castro began to experiment with more modernist techniques, such as atonality and serialism. His Sonata No. 2 for piano, written in 1943, is a prime example of this style. The work is characterized by a dissonant, angular melody and a complex, contrapuntal texture. Castro's String Quartet No. 1, written in 1945, is another example of his modernist style. The work is based on a twelve-tone row, and it features a complex, polyphonic texture. Castro's later works include a number of vocal works, such as his Canciones de la Guerra Civil Española and his Cantata de la Paz. These works show the influence of Mexican folk music, with their use of simple, lyrical melodies and a rhythmic accompaniment. Castro also wrote a number of works for chamber ensemble, such as his Trio for Flute, Oboe, and Clarinet and his Quintet for Piano and Strings. Throughout his career, Castro was recognized as one of Mexico's leading composers. He won numerous awards and honors, including the National Prize for Arts and Sciences in 1973. He was also a respected music educator, teaching at the National Conservatory of Music and the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Castro died on November 18, 1975, in Mexico City. His legacy as a composer and pianist continues to be celebrated in Mexico and around the world. His music is characterized by a unique blend of Mexican folk music and modernist techniques, and it remains an important part of the Mexican classical music tradition.

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