Metro Chabacano

Description

Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello — The seminal idea for "Metro Chabacano" came from an earlier piece for string orchestra, "Canción de Tierra y Esperanza" which was subsequently revised for my friends in the Cuarteto Latinoamericano. The first performance took place in Mexico City at the grand opening of a kinetic art installation by Marcos Limenes, one of Mexico's most recognized artists. The installation was at the Metro Chabacano of the Mexico City subway system. "Metro Chabacano" has a continuous movement of moderately driving speed from which short melodic solos emerge from each instrument. Although the piece is brief and in a single movement the rhythms, accents and melodic fragments that emerge from the perpetual motion background are intricately playful. REVIEW: "The Alvarez - which was originally arranged for quartet to accompany an art installation in a Mexico City subway station - was excellent: rich, pliant, and proudly Latin." --Phil Johnson, The Independent (UK)