Chávez exercised a strong influence over musical life in his native Mexico, as composer, conductor and teacher. He played an official part in the political attempts to revive interest in pre-Hispanic culture, to which he turned for inspiration.

Orchestral Music

The orchestral music of Chávez includes six symphonies and demanding concertos for violin and for piano. His ballet music, often with pre-Hispanic elements, is of some importance in the concert hall, and he found use for traditional pre-Hispanic instruments. With his original treatment of orchestration, he provides music often of a very definite Mexican flavour.