Alida Vázquez facts for kids

Alida Vázquez (1929–2015) was a talented Mexican composer who created many different kinds of music. She spent a lot of her life living and working in the United States. Her music included pieces for solo instruments, groups of instruments, and even electronic sounds.

Who Was Alida Vázquez?

Alida Vázquez was born in 1929 in Mexico City, Mexico. From 1941 to 1947, she attended the Conservatorio Nacional de Música, which is a famous music school in Mexico. There, she studied piano with a teacher named Esperanza Cruz de Vasconcelos. She also learned about music theory, which is how music is put together, from Julián Carrillo.

After her studies in Mexico, Alida Vázquez received a special scholarship. This scholarship allowed her to go to the Diller-Quaile Music School in New York City. She continued to learn and grow as a musician, even studying with another composer named Mario Davidovsky at City College.

What Else Did She Do?

Alida Vázquez didn't just focus on music. After finishing her music studies, she also learned about journalism. She even worked as a music therapist, which means she used music to help people feel better. In 1976, she started teaching music at the Bank Street College of Education, sharing her knowledge with new students. Alida Vázquez passed away in 2015.

What Kind of Music Did Alida Vázquez Compose?

Alida Vázquez wrote many different types of musical pieces. She composed "song cycles," which are groups of songs that tell a story or share a theme. She also wrote music for single instruments, like a piano or a violin.

Her Musical Creations

She created pieces for "chamber ensembles," which are small groups of musicians. Alida Vázquez was also interested in modern music. She composed electronic dance music and "electro-acoustic" works, which combine electronic sounds with sounds made by instruments.

Here are some of her well-known works:

• Acuarelas de México (1970)
• Piece for Violin and Piano (1970)
• Pieza para clarinete y piano (1971)
• Música para siete instrumentos (1974)
• Electronic Moods and Piano Sounds (1977)

See also

In Spanish: Alida Vázquez para niños