Lucha Libre!

I have always considered orchestral musiciansto belike superheroes: they use their technicalgifts to make the “impossible”happen on stage and work together as a team to create the mostbeautiful music.The same kind of collaborative magic happens inlucha libre(freestylewrestling), the Mexican spectaclewhere “real-life” superheroes face off against each other.Mostof the acrobatic moves inthis theatrical sportarechoreographed, soluchadores(wrestlers),like classical musicians, work closely to perform elaborate maneuvers and put onthe best show for their fans.Lucha Libre!is a musical battle betweensixsoloists that play from their usual seating places inthe orchestra. The soloists personifythreerudos(villains) andthreetécnicos(heroes)whofaceoff asluchadoresfrom opposing teams.For this piece, I invented my ownluchadoresand mywife Marisa designed their masks.From therudosteam, we have: the timpani as “La Kalva”(“TheSkeleton”),theprincipal trumpet as “Astro Tapatío” (“Guadalajara Superstar”), andtheprincipal cello as “Don Diavlo” (“Mr. Devil”).On thetécnicosside, we have: the piano as“Dominus,”the principal flute as “Volátigo” (“Voltawhip”),andthe principal violin as “SanSilver” (“Saint Silver”).Eachluchadorhas their own melodic theme, which embodiestheirunique personality.The soloists play thesemelodies, while wearing their masks, to battleagainst each other.In this album, you’ll alsobe able to listento each separate theme inSeisLuchadores.The composition is structured like alucha librematch. First, theluchadoresare introduced andwe hear their themes as theyenterthe ring.Then, they contend with each other 1 vs. 1, 2 vs. 2,and eventually 3 vs. 3 during the climax of the piece.At times, the orchestra recreates thearena’s atmosphere by mimicking the sounds of vuvuzelas, as well as the whistling andcheering. In the percussion family, the slapstick imitates the luchadores slapping theiropponents’ chests, while the bass drum echoes the referee smacking the mat when a luchadoris pinned.When the referee finally counts to three, the listeners will be able to identify thewinning team, as their victory is celebrated with anepic renditionof their themes, culminatingin a triumphant ending.

—Juan Pablo Contreras