Mexican-Canadian composer Luis Ramirez returns to speak about this latest composition, PICANTE, set to premiere with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) later this month.

Some of you may recall, Ramirez and I spoke last year about his career and being one of three early-career composers part of the TSO’s NextGen Composers initiative. This initiative is part of TSO Music Director Gustavo Gimeno’s commitment to supporting and developing Canadian talent.

This time, Ramirez talks about the evolution in his process when creating and composing a new piece. He also graciously shares his inpiration behind this new piece, PICANTE (spicy).

Ramirez also shares a sample of PICANTE which has elements of Mexican Danzón – a type of music which originited in Cuba and that is still very popular in Mexican culture today. Danzón instruments may include brass instruments (cornet, valve trombone, ophicleide), clarinet(s), violin(s), and tympani (kettle drums).

He also explains how musical tones, gestures and orchestration work together to give us an interpretation of what eating something spicy or ‘feeling the heat’ feels like through music.

Ramirez’s PICANTE and two other Next Gen compositions will premiere along with Yuja Wang‘s performance of Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto with the TSO from Friday, Jun 16 to Sunday, Jun 18, 2023.