Born in Mexico City in 1899. He was a Mexican composer, violinist, and orchestra director, considered one of the most influential musicians of all time in Mexico. Revueltas started as a violinist and orchestra director, his composition artwork was developed quite late in his career, in the early 30’s, most likely influenced by Carlos Chavez, who was assisted by Silvestre between 1929 and 1935.
In 1937 participated actively in the Spanish civil war together with the Republican party. Self-educated composer, his compositions are rare but highly valued. Such as El renacuajo paseador (1933) and the orchestra pieces Ocho por radio (1933), Redes (1935), Homenaje a Federico García Lorca (1935) and La noche de los mayas (1939). His master piece is Sensemayá (1938). His Deep knowlege about Mexican music and his rhythm absolute primacy gave him a particular appealing.
In 1917 he came to the US to study violin. He studied at St. Edward College in Austin, Texas, from 1916 to 1918, and at the Chicago Musical College from 1918 to 1920. Revueltas conducted an orchestra in Mobile, Ala., in 1928, and in the following year he became assistant conductor of the Mexico Symphony Orchestra, a position he held until 1935.
Just like Rivera and Siqueiros, Revueltas was driven by the nationalism. He was part of a group of nationalist authors that sought the renewal of forms by recovering the values of indigenous music and the pre-Hispanic past (Mayan culture and Aztec traditions), at the same time approaching the avant-garde languages obtaining an authentic national expression.
He was going through a period of alcoholism and after having a cold beer during the hang over, he went out to the street with light clothes, when he returned, he was already suffering from bronchopneumonia. He died in the early morning of October 5, 1940.