TLACAELEL
A Symphonic Poem
Michael Mehl, 1994

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The title piece of this Compact Disc was inspired by Tlacaelel, Aztec Among The Aztecs, an historical novel by the Mexican author Antonio Velsaco Piña.

I was so taken with the depth and consequence of the series of historical events that resulted from the thoughts and actions of this one person –Tlacaelel, Aztecs Among Aztecs, thinker, mystic, warrior, visionary, religious reformer, creator of an empire; that I felt compelled to compose a musical piece expressing the deep impressions roused in me by the book.

The result is this symphonic poem that reflects Tlacaelel’s extraordinary spiritual progress throughout his long and influential life.

The symphonic poem begins with somber martial overtones, replicating Tlacaelel’s original vision of the Aztecs as a predestined nation of mystic warriors, responsible for keeping at bay the forces of darkness, safeguarding the eternal light, maintaining a critical balance in the universe. The musical structures and moods develop accordingly, illustrating his visionary insights and the various stages of his enlightenment.

During the latter part of the symphonic poem –reflecting a crucial change in Tlacaelel’s cosmogonic vision, the music becomes less martial, more lyrical, ending on a melancholy not –not a sad rem embrance of things past, but a final realization and acceptance of the end of a cycle, followed by a profound yearning to start anew in a next life.

The orchestration is simple, elegant, and clean. In using a basic assignment of strings, horns, flute and percussion, I was seeking to emulate the essential qualities of the musical instruments used by the Aztecs.

Tlacaelel was composed, performed, arranged, and sequenced by Michael mehl on o KORG O1W-FD keyboard workstation. The Compact Disc, which includes other musical pieces, was published in late 1994. The official public presentation was in March of 1995.

Tlacaelel was featured in Electronic Musician magazine, in the August, 1995 issue, with a review by Mary Cosola titled: In His Mind’s Eye – Michael Mehl assembles a MIDI orchestra.

Visit the Music page on this, my website, to listen to Tlacaelel and my other musical work.