Eduardo Mata
Encyclopedia
Eduardo Mata was a Mexican
conductor
and composer
.
Mata was born in Mexico City
. He studied guitar
privately for three years before enrolling in the National Conservatory of Music
. From 1960 to 1963 he studied composition under Carlos Chávez
, Héctor Quintanar and Julián Orbón. In 1964 he received a Koussevitzky Fellowship to study at Tanglewood
. There, he studied conducting with Max Rudolf and Erich Leinsdorf
and composition with Gunther Schuller
.
He composed several works in the 1950s and 1960s, including three symphonies
, chamber works
, sonatas, and works for ballet
. His third symphony and some of his chamber works have been recorded.
In 1965 he was appointed head of the Music Department of the National Autonomous University of Mexico
(UNAM) and conductor of the Guadalajara Orchestra
. He also conducted the orchestra at the University, which later became the National Autonomous University of Mexico Philarmonic Orchestra
. In 1972, he left Mexico to take the position of principal conductor of the Phoenix Symphony
. The next year he was appointed as the Phoenix ensemble's music director, holding that position through the 1977-78 season.
From 1977 to 1993 he was music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
and guest conductor of several famous orchestras in the U.S.
, Europe
and Latin America
. He recorded over fifty albums, most of them with the UNAM Symphony Orchestra, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra
. He was also appointed as Principal Conductor of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and was about to take up this post in January 1995 when he was killed.
On the morning of January 4, 1995, Mata and a passenger were en route from Cuernavaca, Morelos, to Dallas, Texas
. Mata was piloting his own Piper Aerostar. One engine failed shortly after takeoff, and the plane crashed during an emergency landing attempt. Both died.
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
Mata was born in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. He studied guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
privately for three years before enrolling in the National Conservatory of Music
National Conservatory of Music (Mexico)
The National Conservatory of Music of Mexico is a music conservatory located in the Polanco section of Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico.-History:...
. From 1960 to 1963 he studied composition under Carlos Chávez
Carlos Chávez
Carlos Antonio de Padua Chávez y Ramírez was a Mexican composer, conductor, music theorist, educator, journalist, and founder and director of the Mexican Symphonic Orchestra. He was influenced by native Mexican cultures. Of his six Symphonies, his Symphony No...
, Héctor Quintanar and Julián Orbón. In 1964 he received a Koussevitzky Fellowship to study at Tanglewood
Tanglewood
Tanglewood is an estate and music venue in Lenox and Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It is the home of the annual summer Tanglewood Music Festival and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, and has been the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home since 1937. It was the venue of the Berkshire Festival.- History...
. There, he studied conducting with Max Rudolf and Erich Leinsdorf
Erich Leinsdorf
Erich Leinsdorf was a naturalized American Austrian conductor. He performed and recorded with leading orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States and Europe, earning a reputation for exacting standards as well as an acerbic personality...
and composition with Gunther Schuller
Gunther Schuller
Gunther Schuller is an American composer, conductor, horn player, author, historian, and jazz musician.- Biography and works :...
.
He composed several works in the 1950s and 1960s, including three symphonies
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
, chamber works
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
, sonatas, and works for ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
. His third symphony and some of his chamber works have been recorded.
In 1965 he was appointed head of the Music Department of the National Autonomous University of Mexico
National Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
(UNAM) and conductor of the Guadalajara Orchestra
Guadalajara Orchestra
Jalisco Philarmonic Orchestra was established during the 1915 by José Rolón as the Guadalajara Symphonic Orchestra in Guadalajara, Jalisco in Mexico. The Orchestra resides at Teatro Degollado located in the historic district of Guadalajara....
. He also conducted the orchestra at the University, which later became the National Autonomous University of Mexico Philarmonic Orchestra
OFUNAM
The Orquesta Filarmónica de la UNAM was founded in 1936 and is the oldest symphonic group in Mexico City. It is based at Sala Nezahuacóyotl at the University City of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, in Mexico City...
. In 1972, he left Mexico to take the position of principal conductor of the Phoenix Symphony
Phoenix Symphony
The Phoenix Symphony is a major United States symphony orchestra based in Phoenix, Arizona.Founded in 1947 when Phoenix had a population of less than 100,000, the orchestra began as an occasional group of musicians performing a handful of concerts each year...
. The next year he was appointed as the Phoenix ensemble's music director, holding that position through the 1977-78 season.
From 1977 to 1993 he was music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra. It performs its concerts in the Meyerson Symphony Center in the Arts District of downtown Dallas, Texas, United States....
and guest conductor of several famous orchestras in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. He recorded over fifty albums, most of them with the UNAM Symphony Orchestra, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
. He was also appointed as Principal Conductor of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and was about to take up this post in January 1995 when he was killed.
On the morning of January 4, 1995, Mata and a passenger were en route from Cuernavaca, Morelos, to Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. Mata was piloting his own Piper Aerostar. One engine failed shortly after takeoff, and the plane crashed during an emergency landing attempt. Both died.
External links
- http://www.classical-composers.org/comp/mata