Today is Cinco de Mayo, a day that commemorates the defeat of French forces in the city of Puebla in Mexico in 1862. Contrary to popular perception, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day — that’s Sept. 16. In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is largely a regional holiday, celebrated primarily in Puebla.
In the U.S., Cinco de Mayo has taken on much more significance, having become a celebration of Mexican culture and Mexican-American heritage.
In that spirit, it seems fitting to shine a light today on Mexican composer Manuel Ponce. Active in the 20th century, Ponce was trained at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City. He also spent time studying and composing music in Italy, Germany and Cuba. Ponce also befriended and wrote music for Spanish guitar virtuoso, Andrés Segovia.
Guitar music is a hallmark of Ponce’s oeuvre, as is his use of Mexican folkloric elements in his compositions. One of Ponce’s most famous works is his 1912 composition, Estrellita, or “little star”.
Here is that work, performed by Italian guitarist Stefano Tracanelli. This lovely and evocative piece is a great listen for Cinco de Mayo.
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