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    • 2022-23 Virtual Offerings >
      • The Choir Loft >
        • Feb. 5 - Winter's Chill - Dianna Morgan
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Romancero Gitano, by Mario Castelnuovo Tedesco
No, I didn't become a lumberjack or move to Zambia. I am still here, though the definition of 'here' is a moving target. Margaret and I are in San Francisco at the moment, bound this morning for the Big Island of Hawaii: A much-deferred and much-anticipated getaway.

But before heading to SFO  in a few minutes, I want to send out a wonderful multi-movement piece of music called 'Romancero Gitano', by Mario Castelnuovo Tedesco. It's based upon a selection of poems from Federico Garcia Lorca's eponymous collection, published in 1928.

In 2003, the SSU choral program focused its attention for an entire year upon Spanish music both old and modern. The 'Romancero Gitano' was one of the pieces performed by the SSU Chamber Singers. (The group is part of the heritage of Circa 1600.)

Castelnuovo Tedesco's piece is scored for four-part choir and classical guitar. This is an interesting voicing, and challenging, too, because the sound of the assembled voices can easily overcome the sound of the guitar. In the fantastic recording which I'm featuring, this potential is obviated by the use of a vocal quartet in place of the choir. The piece may lose something of the collective power of a choral performance, but gains immeasurably in both balance and intimacy.

Before listening, you must check out the poems! They are attached along with good translations. A nice exercise would be to read through the set, imagining how each poem might be set to music--tempo, texture, style, word-painting and so forth. 

Then, along with the attached score, listen to the recording. (You can listen straight through, or jump around between the various movements by means of the play list on the right side of your screen.) 

I think you'll be amazed at the ways in which the composer brings each poem to vivid musical life. And the performance is nothing short of spectacular.

As always, I hope you enjoy the music, and that it might in some measure lift your spirits.

Click here to download learning materials
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