On this episode of KPAC's Momentos Musicales, host James Baker recalls early reactions to "West Side Story" through interviews with the late songwriter Stephen Sondheim.

On this episode of Momentos Musicales: As we consider another entry into the Great Americas Songbook, James Baker listens to Violeta Parra's “Gracias a la vida,” a song which easily crosses borders and dresses easily into any number of different genres.

On this episode of Momentos Musicales: From Morelia, we learn about Miguel Bernal Jiménez, and see how a beautiful waltz went international with lyrics and a popular rendition by Mario Lanza.

TPR's James Baker shares how soprano Ailyn Pérez and composer Daniel Catán brought something new to the world of opera, rooted in Latin American sounds.

This season's offering of Momentos Musicales on KPAC 88.3 FM takes the idea of growing the Great American Songbook into the Great Americas Songbook through songs and melodies from Central and South America that influenced composers in America and elsewhere.

The 2024 season of Momentos Musicales comes to an end as the ensemble Inti-Illimani presents “Quiaquenita” and Gabriela Ortiz returns alongside pianist Ana Cervantes with her extraordinary “Estudio No. 3.” Eugenio Toussiant has the honor of the final bars of music with his “Palabras sin Sonida,” words without sound.

Ana Cervantes shares the story behind her set of commissions from 16 composers, from five countries, for a project called “Canto de la Monarca: Mujeres en Mexico.” The music, old and new, modern and indigenous, tells histories and mythologies. If there are no literary languages, they are surely implied in at times highly dramatic fashion. Gabriela Ortiz was one of the best-known of the composers who answered Ana's call for submissions.

Today's journey begins with flute music from R. Carlos Nakai, born into the Navajo nation. His song echoes the souls of Nakai's ancestors as they beat out foot paths to the south, establishing trade routes connecting the Navajo nation with the Huichol of northwestern Mexico. Trade continued all the way to the great Aztec city which we know today as Mexico City. Gabriela Ortiz speaks of discovering Huichol chant which she then integrated into her modern orchestral score, “Kauyumari.”

Carlos and Allison Franzetti take us once more into the Teatro Colón to encounter ghosts and other surprises. Carlos also tells of working as a producer and arranger for the legendary singer, Mercedes Sosa, while also explaining how he continues to compose music as an Argentinian writer despite having lived the past 50 years in New Jersey.

Lila Downs, a keeper and protector of many early languages of Latin America, sings poetry of the Zapotec poet, Ta Rey Baza, a legendary character from Oaxaca. Also, the Argentine composer Lalo Schifrin demands his soloists and chorus to sing in Nahuatl his “Cantos Aztecas,” based upon poetry from the 15th century Aztec scholar, architect and ruler, Nezahualcoyotl. We also hear the great quena virtuoso, Juan Lazaro Mendolas, championed by Carlos Franzetti, and the amazing virtuosity of the Mexican ensemble, Los Folkloristas.