Luis Serrano Alarcón: SPANISH DANCES - II. ZORTZIKO. Vanderbilt Wind Symphony - Thomas Verrier, Cond

Vanderbilt Wind Symphony
Thomas Verrier, Conductor
College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA)
National Conference - February 16, 2023
SPANISH DANCES (Book I)
Spanish Dances (Book I) is the first installment of a larger suite that will explore the rich and varied traditions of Spanish music. These settings are not intended as authentic presentations, rather the composer has taken the essence of each style (rhythm, tempo, melodic character, structure, etc.) as inspiration to ex¬plore its possibilities through his own language and musical aesthetic. Inspired by Issac Albeniz's masterpiece Iberia, this suite will eventually consist of twelve pieces separated into four books with three pieces in each. Spanish Dances (Book I) was recognized as a finalist in the NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest in December 2022.
II. ZORTZIKO
The Zortziko is a typical rhythm of traditional dance in Euskadi and Navarra. Although there are variants in time signature, the most common Zortziko is written in 5/8 divided into three beats of different lengths-eighth note, quarter note, quarter note. This pattern follows the steps of the Dantzaris. Although its origins are in popular music, several classical composers including Sarasate, Albeniz, Guridi, Turina, and Sorozabal have used this rhythm in both symphonic and piano repertoire.
In this Zortziko, piccolo represents the singing of the chistu (Basque flute). This can be heard both in the first theme as well as in the coda, when it performs the Zortziko de Lantz, a popular dance from Navarra-the only quote in the entire suite. As the movement closes, echoes of this popular dance are heard in the distance.
Born in Valencia in 1972, Luis Serrano Alarcon is a Spanish composer and conductor. His works have been performed in more than 30 countries and he has been invited to conduct his own music in Spain, Italy, Singapore, USA, Colombia, Japan, Mexico, and Hong Kong. In 2012, the Southeastern Conference Band Directors Association commissioned the composition of his first Symphony for Wind Orchestra, and in 2017 he wrote the second of his symphonies commissioned by the University of Saint Thomas. His latest projects includ his Cello Concerto and the commission of a consortium of 13 North American universities for the composition of his First Book of Spanish Dances.