The Night of the Mayas (Spanish: La noche de los mayas) is a 1939 Mexican film directed by Chano Urueta. The film, which is called a "Mexican tragedy" set in the times of the Mayas, is remembered today for its musical score by the Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas.

Cast Arturo de Córdova as Uz Stella Inda as Lol Isabela Corona as Zev Luis Aldás as Miguel Miguel Ángel Ferriz Sr. as Yum Balam Rodolfo Landa as Taz Daniel (Chino) Herrera as Apolonio Rosita Gasque as Pil Max Langler as H‐Men, hombre sabio Jacoba Herrera as Nuc, anciana Ch. Sánchez as Chumín

Music

Revueltas' music is best known in arrangements for the concert hall, although the composer did not live to make such an arrangement himself.

Concert suites In 1946 the German composer Paul Hindemith made a visit to Mexico where he met Rosaura Revueltas, sister of Silvestre. This led to his concert arrangement in two movements.

There is a later arrangement by (1919–1976) in four movements. It is scored for larger forces than Hindemith's version and includes a large percussion section.Kolb Neuhaus, Roberto. "La noche de los mayas: crónica de una performance de otredad exótica". Trans (Revista Transcultural de Música), no. 18 (October 2014) (accessed 16 July 2017).

Recordings

The version by Hindemith was recorded by the Tempus Fugit Orquesta conducted by Christian Gohmer, and released by Quindecim Records in 2014.Silvestre Revueltas: La noche de los Mayas: versión de Paul Hindemith; Juan Trigos: Concierto no. 2 (Hispano): para guitarra y orquesta, Raúl Zambrano (guitar), Tempus Fugit Orquesta, Christian Gohmer (cond.); recorded at Sony Music, Mexico City 10–12 June 2013. CD recording. Quindecim CDQP239. Mexico: Quindecim Recordings, 2014.

Limantour was recorded conducting the Orquesta Sinfónica de Guadalajara.Silvestre Revueltas, Musica para charlar; La noche de los Mayas. Orquesta Sinfónica de Guadalajara; José Yves Limantour (cond.). Musart MCD 3022 (LP). Mexico City: Discos Musart. Later recordings include one by the Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, which was released on Deutsche Grammophon in 2010.Rite: Stravinsky/Revueltas. Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, Gustavo Dudamel (cond.) CD recording. Deutsche Grammophon 0289 477 8775 4.

References

Further reading Lienhard, Martin. "La Noche de Los Mayas: Indigenous Mesoamericans in Cinema and Literature, 1917–1943", translated by Peter Cooke and Philip Derbyshire. Journal of Latin American Cultural Studies 13, no. 1 (2004): 35–96.

External links