By Quirino Mendoza y Cortés | Multi-Level Masterpiece Arrangement by Michael Linert
Commissioned by the Aspen Music Festival and School in 2022
The video above is from the Aspen Music Festival and School’s 2025 performance at the Mariachi Workshop and Celebration. The videos below are from the festival performance in 2024 followed by the 2022 premiere performance.
Specific Strategies
Foundational Notes
Rhythm 1 - Play the written note on the downbeat
Rhythm 2
1st time: M. 1-56, play the written notes on beats 2 and 3.
2nd time M. 1-52, play the written notes on beats 2 and 3 / M. 53 & 61-64, play the written note on the downbeat only.
Switching parts mid-song is possible. For instance, at a recent workshop, we utilized the following structure:
1st Half (m.1-56) | 2nd Half (m.9-end)
Violin 1 - 1st Half: Harmony 1 | 2nd Half: Melody 1
Violin 2 - 1st Half: Harmony 1 | 2nd Half: Melody 2
Viola - 1st Half: Melody 1 | 2nd Half: Harmony 1
Cello - 1st Half: Melody 2 | 2nd Half: Bass 2
Bass - 1st Half: Melody 1 | 2nd Half: Bass 2
Errata, Requests, and Possible Future Updates - Version 6/1/26
In the Vocal part, m. 26 should be changed to “F natural” and “A” rather than “F#” and “A”. Measure 42 is correct. All instrumental Melody parts are correct in both m. 26 and 42.
Melody 1 - Essence parts may be added in the future to serve as a bridge to the Heart and Vast parts. The Essence part would include simplified rhythms that still align with the Heart and Vast parts.
Additional Melody and Bassline Vast parts will be considered.
Separate harp and piano parts will be considered, and fills (glissandos) will likely be added. A fuller approach to the chords of each will be considered, though the current goal of these Multi-Level Masterpiece arrangements is that each part is playable by the other instruments, so we may keep this aspect still on the simpler side.
Bassline - Essence parts with simplified rhythms will be considered.
A contrapuntal “Sparkle” part may be considered to add an additional layer of complexity.
Conducting Recommended Kickoff
1, 2, 3, 1, 2