Mexico City

March 19, 1931

For Isaura Murguía

Probable premiere: April 2, 1931, assembly room of the School of Higher Education in Business and Administration, Conservatory Quartet (Filiberto Nava and Francisco Moncayo, violins; Ángel Rocha, viola; and José López Flores, cello).

11’

2vn, va, vc

The autograph, a draft score, an incomplete set of instrumental parts done by the composer (corresponding to the first and final movements), and a complete set of instrumental parts done by a copyist are preserved. A considerable number of sketches were also found.

The first draft of the quartet contains the following text by Revueltas: “One might call it a Mexican ‘sketch’. (It can be that if you like). But it does not tend toward the folkloric, serious, or consequential.” The text on the cover of the second draft reads: “It could be a Mexican ‘sketch’ but without folkloric implications. More of a fantasy. It is based on the fragment of a popular song. There is nothing folkloric, serious, or consequential about it.”

Southern Music Publishing Co., published as String Quartet No. 2.