Márquez was born in Alamos, Mexico in the mountainous western portion of the country.  Music was in his blood as his father played in mariachi bands and his paternal grandfather was a folk musician.  From an early age, Arturo was exposed to Mexican salon and folk tunes which have played a role in his mature compositions.  He composed at an early age and started his musical studies at the Mexican Musical Conservatory in Mexico City before moving to the United States to receive his masters at the California Institute of the Arts.    Márquez is the most famous and accomplished composer to come from Mexico.  He has received the highest award for a Mexican musician, the Gold Medal of Fine Arts, for a lifetime in the arts.  

His music often includes Hispanic influences from all over the globe.  His series of Danzóns (at least ten) are inspired by an old Cuban salon dance.  Most of the Danzóns are for orchestra, but the first is electronic, and many feature a solo instrument.  His Danzón #2 is the popular one of the series.  Written in 1994, it increased in popularity, as conductor Gustavo Dudamel performed it often with his youth orchestra in 2007.  It has been arranged for many diverse groups, allowing for more performances and an even wider audience.  The Danzón #2 features many solos from the orchestra including the clarinet and oboe from the beginning in a sweepingly beautiful melody dripping of Latin flavor.  The rhythms will keep your toe tapping.  The violin, piccolo, and flute also have featured solo turns, but the improvisational trumpet solo marks where the piece really takes off in a chaotic frenzy speeding up to the exciting conclusion.

-Program Notes by Kevin Lodge