José Pablo Moncayo was first played on NTS on 16 September 2022. Songs played include Danzón No. 4.

José Pablo Moncayo was a composer born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. He studied in the National Conservatory, working at the same time as pianist in restaurants and for the radio. In the year 1942 thanks to a scholarship of the Berkshire Institute, he was able to study under Aaron Copland, American composer and orchestra director. As companions he had Blas Galindo, Savior Contreras and Daniel Ayala in the assembly of chamber music baptized as the “Group of Four”.

In 1931 he was a percussionist for the Symphonic Orchestra of Mexico City, which he directed in five occasions from the years 1936 to 1947; and was its deputy director and artistic director from 1945 to 1947. In January of 1950 he directed the National Symphonic Orchestra where he remained until 1954.

Among his works, the most prominent are: Small nocturnal (1936), Amatzinac (1937), Sonata for violin (1937), Huapango (1941), Symphony Not. 1 (1944), Sinfonietta (1945), Three pieces for orchestra: fair, song and dance (1947), Homage to Cervantes (1947) and Huapango (1958). Also: Sonata for violin and match, Three pieces for piano, Sonatina for piano, Land of storm, Penatori, Songs of sea, Fantasy untouchable, Dance of the corns, Romanza of the flowers of pumpkin, Story of the potranca, Homage to Carlos Chávez and Land (ballet). He passed away in Mexico City, June 16, 1958.