Ventanas (Revueltas)

In one programme note, Revueltas gave a rather conventional programmatic description: "Ventanas is sharply romantic music.

[5]Like Planos, Ventanas is exceptional among Revueltas's single-movement works in that it does not fall into a three-part structural pattern but rather is formally free and through-composed.

[6] Ventanas, characteristic of Revueltas's style, employs pedal tones and ostinatos as bases for musical constructions which usually are accumulations of rhythms and instrumental textures.

[7][8] The music "never stands still (except when the composer intends so, always to maximum effect; these episodes are felt both as moments of melodic statement and rhythmic repose).

"[8] As an instance of Revueltas's harsher, more abstract, and modernist style Ventanas, as also Esquinas were poorly received by audiences, in contrast to his more lyrical and tonal examples, such as Colorines and Janitzio, were warmly praised.

He was like a modern painter who throws marvelous daubs of color on canvas that practically takes your eye out, but it doesn't add up.

[10]A 1999 review of Esa-Pekka Salonen's recording rates Ventanas somewhat higher, as a "minor masterpiece", in fact, describing it as cinematic and rhapsodic with primitive, ritualistic episodes recalling Sensemayá, but also with "delightful interludes in the Mexican folk style, a blues-tinged oboe theme, impassioned violins, and a drunken, orgiastic coda that builds to an appropriately festive climax".