Manuel Ponce was a Mexican pianist and composer whose musical style changed significantly during his life. His early works reflected the sparkling salon style of composers like Moszkowski and Chaminade, and included many light piano pieces and sentimental songs. Later, after studying with Dukas, Ponce developed a new style that mixed French Impressionism with neo-Classical techniques. This later style is found in most of his guitar music and his more serious, larger works. Ponce composed a wide variety of music including songs, early piano pieces, a piano concerto, several large orchestral works, the Concierto del sur for guitar and orchestra which was first performed by Segovia, chamber music, two piano sonatas, and many guitar pieces. His works show the two distinct phases of his compositional career, with the serious and important pieces mostly written in his later style. Born in 1882, Ponce had little formal musical training during his childhood in Mexico. He became organist at Saint Diego, Aguascalientes in 1895 and studied piano with Vicente Mañes in Mexico City starting in 1900. Between 1901 and 1904, he supported himself through work as an organist, teacher, and music critic in Aguascalientes. Ponce then moved to Europe in 1904, giving his first recital abroad in St. Louis on his way. He lived in Berlin teaching and performing until 1909 when he returned to Mexico City to teach piano at the conservatory and later conduct the National Symphony Orchestra from1917-1919. In 1925, Ponce moved to Paris, where he edited a music magazine and studied with Dukas, which led him to develop his new compositional style. He returned to Mexico in 1933 and stayed there until he died. While many early works are less known today, some songs like Estrellita remain popular. Most of his guitar pieces have become standard in the repertoire, but his major works are rarely played outside Mexico.