ERIC ESTRADA VALADEZ
Composer

“The Rabbit in the Moon” is inspired by “El conejo en la Luna”, a Mexican pre- Hispanic folktale that was passed down orally through generations to teach youngsters the importance of humility, selflessness, sacrifice, and the value of maintaining our connection to the gods.

The piece follows the structure of a text written by Mexican-American writer and artist Fernando Moguel, narrating the story from the rabbit’s perspective and its encounter with Quetzalcóatl—a native Mexican deity who represents creation and wisdom and is depicted as a feathered serpent. The music is rich in Latin American musical tropes and rhythms, and draws inspiration from other narrative-based works such as Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale and Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf.

This piece was commissioned by and dedicated to Loop 38, and it represents my

first experience combining narration and music for children—an experience I

thoroughly enjoyed.

Commissioned by Loop 38

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Performance History:​

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Premiered at the Wharton Dual Language Academy by Loop 38 on May of 2025​

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Performed at the Mandarin Immersion Magnet School by Loop 38 on May of 2025

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Performed at the Arabic Immersion Magnet School by Loop 38 on May of 2025

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