Silvestre Revueltas

While locked in a competitive struggle for dominance with Carlos Chávez for many of his best years, Silvestre Revueltas (1899-1940) has emerged as the major modernist voice in 20th century music. Primarily educated in Chicago, Revueltas served as Chávez's assistant conductor in the Orquesta Sinfónica de México until a dispute with Chávez led him to resign and form his own short-lived symphony. Revueltas wrote scores for films and symphonic poems such as Sensemayá (1938), which have a rude, brutal power that is arresting and intense. Although his life was shortened by alcohol, he is viewed by many as the quintessential Mexican composer.