THIS WEEK IN PIANO HISTORY, we celebrate the birth of composer Mario Ruiz Armengol, who was born on March 17, 1914. A Mexican composer, Ruiz Armengol wrote a number of important piano works including a sonata, the 31 Piezas para niños, and 12 Estudios.
Ruiz Armengol was born into a large family in Veracruz, Mexico. His father was a famous pianist and conductor Don Ismael Ruiz Suárez. He began playing piano at the age of eight and also learned to play numerous wind instruments. His early studies occurred at the Conservatorio Nacional de Música. Throughout his life, he continued his studies and took lessons with famous Mexican composers José Rolón and Rodolfo Halffter.
Ruiz Armengol’s music blossomed from an eclectic set of influences including classical, folk, and jazz music. He frequently performed folk music before becoming involved with XEW, a famous Mexican radio station, in 1931.1 During this time, he became acquainted with a number of important classical singers and was well known as an expert accompanist.
As a composer, Ruiz Armengol wrote music for young pianists and for virtuosos. His 31 Piezas para niños, features 31 short, pedagogical pieces that explore a diverse range of concepts for developing pianists. His Piano Sonata from 1971 is a virtuosic work in three movements that lasts about ten minutes. The finale, marked “Presto,” contains sprightly and vigorous passagework for the pianist. In addition to these large collections, he also wrote miniatures such as Las frías montañas (The Cold Mountains), which contains beautiful, long melodic lines. Because of his use of interesting harmonic progressions, Duke Ellington among others called Ruiz Armengol ‘Mr. Harmony!’2
Curious to learn more about Mario Ruiz Armengol? Check out our course: Exploring Latin American Piano Music: A Cultural Journey with Elementary through Early-Advanced Pieces!
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- MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Dance and the Music of Argentine Composers by Hyrum Arnesen
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- WEBINAR ARCHIVE: Latin American Composers Part I with Juan Pablo Andrade, Elizabeth Gutierrez, Angelica Sanchez, Luis Sanchez, and Bernardo Scarambone
- WEBINAR ARCHIVE: Music by Latin American Composers with Rosangela Sebba, Oscar Macchioni, and Ricardo Pozenatto, with Luis Sanchez, moderator
- WEBINAR ARCHIVE: Around the World with Piano Duets with Luis Sanchez and Libby Vanatta
- REPERTOIRE VIDEO SERIES: Ponce: 20 Piezas fáciles sobre temas mexicanos by Desireé González-Miller
- DISCOVERY POST: This Week in Piano History: Birth of Jorge Bolet by Curtis Pavey
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Sources
- Ricardo Miranda Pérez, “Ruiz Armengol, Mario,” Grove Music Online, 2001; Accessed 17 Feb. 2023, oxfordmusiconline-com.uc.idm.oclc.org/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000046061.
- Mario Ruiz Armengol, “Mario Ruiz Armengol, Excelso Músico Mexicano, Orgullosamente Veracruzano.” 2004, Accessed July 10, 2022, mruizarmengol.com/.
Pérez, Ricardo Miranda. “Ruiz Armengol, Mario.” Grove Music Online. 2001; Accessed 17 Feb. 2023. oxfordmusiconline-com.uc.idm.oclc.org/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000046061.
Ruiz Armengol, Mario. “Mario Ruiz Armengol, Excelso Músico Mexicano, Orgullosamente Veracruzano.” 2004. Accessed July 10, 2022. mruizarmengol.com/