del Águila - Quinteto Sinfónico

I. Giocoso (Gracioso)
II. Misterioso
III. Luminous (Luminoso)
Quinteto Sinfónico Op. 122 for woodwind quintet
Written 2019 it was premiered the same year by Pentaèdre at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, Canada. As the title suggests, the work resembles a mimi-symphony in three movements that follow an overall thematic structure and form. The quintet is often made to sound orchestral by emphasizing music discourse and harmonic texture over individual colors.
I. Giocoso – The work begins quietly with a slow, humorous Latin dance which increases tempo and intensity. The performers share themes and continue each other’s phrases as if they were improvising while “dancing” with each other through fast tempos and shifting irregular rhythms. The movement ends with an upbeat new theme which anticipates the second and third movements.”My inspiration for this movement was a technique often used by Andean folk ensembles where wind instruments share and continue each other’s melodies making them sound as if played by only one performer. Often for these ensembles cooperation and the sound of all together is more important than showcasing the talent of each individual. This turns the music into a spontaneous dialogue as each performer must react to what the others played and be ready to play any voice at any given moment.”
II. The landscape turns now into that of a warm summer night where an oboe sets the mood with a slow, peaceful, somewhat exotic tune. Soon other musicians join the oboe and a mysterious dialogue ensues, often interrupted by solos and darker passages. Finally the oboe and flute bring back the melody of the beginning, this time with a relaxed Latin beat. The melody becomes more fragmented and dissolves in a long chord.
III. A bright Luminous Fanfare where clarinet, bassoon and horn imitate trumpets playing the melodic line while flute and oboe provide the excitement of a busy background scene. After a series of dissonant climaxes and hectic chases, the piece ends Quinteto Sinfónico joyfully with a reiteration of all previously heard themes.