Homenaje a Oscar Wilde / Homage to Oscar Wilde (Four children's tales)

For Orchestra


Commentary
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Commentary

Originally composed for string quartet in Puerto de Mazarrón during the summer of 1997, and transcribed in 2004 for string orchestra to conmemorate the 20th anniversary of the "Reina Sofía" Orchestra, this version for symphonic orchestra faithfully adapts to the pedagogical character of the original work, conceived both technically and musically within the appropriate difficulties for an intermediate level of chamber music education, to which I have dedicated an important part of my production in recent years.
This Homage to Oscar Wilde consists of four movements of highly contrasting character. The first three are titled after Wilde's tales: thus, the first is titled The Selfish Giant, the second The Nightingale and the Rose, and the third The Canterville Ghost. The set is completed with a fourth tale, whose title itself is a formal statement of intent regarding the previous three: The Selfish Nightingale of Canterville. The same conceptual play reflected in the title inspires the entire composition of the piece, from the first to the last note: the three previous movements have been fragmented and subsequently assembled in strict order, resulting in continuous changes of tempo and character, in a piece that also seeks to approach the humor and irony of the brilliant English writer.
Within the enormous simplicity of its approach and the friendliness of its listening experience, I must confess here that the Homage to Oscar Wilde has been the work that has posed the greatest technical and musical challenges for me, as the last movement needed to make global sense had to be composed simultaneously with the other three, which in turn had to have their own independent sense, with continuous comings and goings, reconsiderations, and modifications throughout the composition process.
This version for symphonic orchestra of the Homage to Oscar Wilde is dedicated to Pilar Sanz, and was made in February 2013, being premiered by the City of Córdoba Orchestra, conducted by José Luis Temes, on April 4 of that same year.

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(Score and parts without watermarks available at www.asesores-musicales.com )