The Spanish Songs
for soprano, bassoon and chamber orchestra
| Duration: | 11 minutes | |
| Instrumentation: | Soprano Solo; Bassoon Solo, 2 Clarinets; 1 Percussion; Harp, Celeste, Strings |
Program notes:
When I first heard soprano Monica Garcia’s singing, I was determined to compose a new work for her. Simultaneously, I was bothered by the decrease of music written for the Bassoon during the 20th century and it was important for me to make my small contribution by writing a Bassoon Concerto. Somehow, these two intentions met together in “The Spanish Songs.” While looking for poems, I had in mind few criterion such as specific subject, mood, and length. It was also important that one of the poems will start as a question. After eight months of searching, I found Antonio Machado’s poems.
The score calls for soprano and bassoon, two clarinets, harp, celesta, percussion and strings. Poems and specific performers help the composer decide on that musical direction or another. Here, I decided to take a more traditional path, adding my view of Spanish music.
| Year composed: | 1998 | |
| Text By: | Antonio Machado (Spain) | |
| Language: | Spanish |
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| English Translation: | Available | |
| Written for: | Monica Garcia-Albea | |
| Premiere performance: | Boston, USA 22 April 1998 Monica Garcia-Albea, soprano Minako Taguchi, bassoon Orchestra from the New England Conservatory Lior Navok, conductor |
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| Prizes Received: | Omaha Symphony International Composition Competition Boston Modern Orchestra Project/ NEC Composition Competition Honorable Mention, ASCAP’S Rudolf Nissim Prize |
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| Yo voy soñando caminos |
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| ¿Mi corazón se ha dormido? | Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. |
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| Poems: | Yo voy soñando caminos Yo voy soñando caminos de la tarde. ¡Las Colinas doradas, los verdes pinos, las polvorientas encinas!. . . ¿Adónde el camino irá? Yo voy cantando, viajero a lo large del sendero . . . –La tarde cayendo está–. “En el corazón tenía la espina de una pasión; logré; arrancármela un día: ya no siento el corazón.” Y todo eI campo un memento se queda, mudo y sombrío, meditando. Suena el viento en los álamos del rio. La tarde más se obscurece; y el camino que serpea, y débilmente blanquea, se enturbia y desaparece. Mi cantar vuelve a piañir: “Aguda espina dorada, quién te pudiera sentir en el corazón clavada.”
¿Mi corazón se ha dormido? |
I dream of evening roads I go dreaming down evening roads. the golden hills, the green pines, the dusty oaks!. . . Where will the path lead to? I go singing, a traveler along the path. . . —Evening is falling —. “In my heart there was the thorn of passion; one day I succeeded in pulling it out: I no longer feel my heart.” And all the land for a moment stands mute and somber, meditating. The wind sounds in the river’s poplars The evening darkens further and the road that twists and weakly whitens, blurs and disappears. My song laments again: “sharp golden thorn, can I feel you piercing my heart?”
Has my heart fallen asleep? |
| Performance History: | ||
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