Cinco de Mayo Overture

This original score by Gary Robert Buchanan was composed in 2003 for the annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration held that year in downtown in Reno, Nevada. The heroic work, premiered by The Foundation Orchestra, has since been performed many times by various other ensembles - and is playable by any good high school, college, community, or professional orchestra. (A performance may be viewed on You Tube at Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican and U.S. celebration of freedom and victory held each year on May 5th. These are the ideals which Mexicans and Americans have fought shoulder to shoulder to protect since the 5th of May, 1862. The score contains numerous Latin American styles and sounds, ranging from ranchero, to tango and flamenco, even Moorish and appropriately Gallic (French) refrains. Buchanan has said, "I heard a music representative of all Latin America and the United States, as well as a large melting pot of cultural expressions, in this instance primarily of Hispanic descent. Perhaps the more striking passages would be the recurring rhythmical and flamboyant solo trumpet tantaras occurring over pulsing tympani, drums, bongos, marimba, and bass ostinati at the middle and end of the 5-minute score. The opening fanfare recurs throughout in contrast to the lilting and Romantic flavor of the 3/4 ranchera and 4/4-plus2/4 tango themes."