Critical Edition of El Libertador: A Symphonic Poem by Costa Rican Composer Julio Mata (1899–1969)

Authors

• Manuel Monge Mata, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

First Advisor

Tyler White

Degree Name

Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.)

Department

Music

Date of this Version

4-27-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Citation

A dissertation presented to the faculty of the Graduate College at the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree Doctor of Musical Arts

Major: Music

Under the supervision of Professor Tyler P. White

Lincoln, Nebraska, May 2026

Comments

Copyright 2026, Juliann Marie Geraci. Used by permission

Abstract

This project offers a critical edition of El Libertador, a symphonic poem composed by Costa Rican artist Julio Mata Oreamuno (1899–1969). The piece holds special importance in Costa Rican orchestral music and represents the symphonic poem genre in Latin American compositions. Although Mata is acknowledged as a key figure in the growth of Costa Rican musical institutions and composition during the twentieth century, much of his orchestral work remains rarely performed and not easily accessible to today’s performers.

The edition is based on manuscript sources kept in the Archivo Histórico Musical of the University of Costa Rica, consisting of the composer’s holograph score and orchestral parts. Through careful transcription and editorial analysis, this project aims to produce a clear and practical performing edition while maintaining the integrity of the original manuscript. Editorial decisions are documented to clarify issues of notation, instrumentation, and interpretation that come from the source materials.

Along with the revised score, this study offers historical context for the composition, including a biographical summary of the composer, an overview of his orchestral works, and a discussion of the programmatic content of El Libertador. The main objective of this project is to make El Libertador more accessible to performers through a modern engraved score and scholarly commentary. In a broader sense, this project aims to support the preservation, study, and performance of Costa Rican orchestral repertoire.

Recommended Citation

Monge Mata, Manuel, "Critical Edition of El Libertador: A Symphonic Poem by Costa Rican Composer Julio Mata (1899–1969)" (2026). Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–. 473.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissunl/473