Luis Jaime Cortez Méndez

Works for Cello

Laminario (1990), for cello and flute.

Violondrina/Golonchelo (2012), for cello solo.

Sources

  • Centro Nacional de Investigación, Documentación e Información Musical Carlos Chávez. (2014, November). Luis Jaime Cortez Méndez. CENIDIM. https://cenidim.inba.gob.mx/88-perfiles-cenidim/156-luis-jaime-cortez-mendez.html#biodata

  • Furman Schleifer, M., and Galván, G. (2016). Latin American Classical Composers, A Biographical Dictionary. London: Rowman & Littlefield.

  • Máynez Champion, S. (2021, November 7). Luis Jaime Cortez. El sonido de las letras. Proceso. https://www.proceso.com.mx/reportajes/2021/11/7/el-sonido-de-las-letras-275376.html

  • Pérez, R. (January 2001). Cortez, Luis Jaime. Grove Music Online. https://doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.45206

  • Prieto, C. (2017). Mis recorridos musicales alrededor del mundo. La música en México y notas autobiográficas. Fondo de Cultura Económica.

Luis Jaime Cortez Méndez

Mexican composer, pianist, and musicologist, born January 18, 1962.

Luis Jaime Cortez Méndez was born in Ziracuarétiro, Michoacán, Mexico, in 1962. While attending the Conservatorio de Las Rosas de Morelia, Michoacán, Cortez studied composition with Bonifacio Rojas, piano with Rubén Valencia, and took classes with Gerhart Muench. In 1980, he studied piano with Laura Sosa and studied conducting with Fernando Lozano at the University Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo. Cortez furthered his musical studies in 1985 as a member of the composition workshop of the Conservatorio Nacional de Música directed by Mario Lavista, where he remained for three years. Cortez’ compositions incorporate antonalisty, quasi-serialist methods, and avant-garde effects; many of his compositions are inspired by literature and writers.

From 1988 to 1994, Cortez directed the Centro Nacional de Investigación, Documentación e Información Musical (CENIDIM). He also directed the Conservatorio de Las Rosas from 1994 to 2004. Cortez was the founding director of the orchestra La Sinfonietta, which was dedicated to disseminating less-known repertoire.

In addition to his work as a composer and pianist, Cortez earned a degree in History from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, a Master’s degree in Philosophy at the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, and a Doctorate in Musicology from the UNAM. He has also published three books: Broken partitions: seven musicological essays, Mario Lavista: texts about music, and Please do not shoot the pianist (about Silvestre Revueltas).