Brazilian Nationalism in Concert works for the Saxophone
P. Van Goes / classical
Website(s) : http://paulavangoes.com
This project serves to feature music by leading Brazilian composers (Radamés Gnattali, Nelson Macêdo and Liduino Pitombeira) who incorporate nationalistic elements into their concert works for saxophone.
Biography
Saxophonist Paula Van Goes has been described as “a virtuoso saxophonist that possesses excellent technical attributes and a deep understanding of the music [she] performs.” (Ovación) Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Paula is a freelance musician who enjoys a career as a chamber musician, soloist and educator. She teaches at Middle Tennessee State University and maintains a private studio.
Dr. Van Goes has toured and lectured throughout China, Scotland, Bolivia, Brazil, Ukraine and the United States and she has become an advocate for Brazilian concert saxophone music. Her dissertation, Brazilian Music for Saxophone: A Survey of Solo and Small Chamber Works, brought her into contact with many of Brazil’s leading classical composers. Paula is a Selmer-Paris Artist and Clinician.
More informations
The subject of Brazilian music commonly brings to mind the genres of Samba and Bossa Nova; however, in the realm of concert music Heitor Villa-Lobos is most commonly identified as the main representative of Brazil. While the Fantasia for Soprano Saxophone and Orchestra by Villa-Lobos is a keystone of the saxophone repertoire, this project serves to feature music by leading Brazilian composers who incorporate nationalistic elements into their concert works for saxophone. The recital will consist of music by Radamés Gnattali whose work is steeped Brazilian Nationalism, Nelson Macêdo whose compositions characterize a Resurgence of Nationalism and Liduino Pitombeira whose prolific writing blends nationalistic elements into a Post-Modernist perspective.
The compositions of Radamés Gnattali (1906-1988) span the genres of art music, music for radio, and popular forms. Gnattali was born into a musical family in the southern-most state of Rio Grande do Sul. Gnattali began his early musical studies on piano and violin.
Valse Triste is a choro in the form of a slow, lyrical waltz for alto saxophone and piano. Within the framework of a popular genre, Gnattali incorporates a somewhat more chromatic harmonic language that is more frequently associated with concert works, allowing the composition to be used in both the popular and concert realms. A copy of the manuscript is held at the Fundação Biblioteca Nacional.
Nelson Batista de Macêdo (b. 1931) is a composer from the northeastern state of Bahia. Upon completing his studies in viola, composition, and conducting in France, Macêdo returned to Rio de Janeiro where he worked as a violist with the orchestra of the Teatro Municipal and later a conductor of various national orchestras.
The primary work for saxophone by Macêdo is Fantasia Capricho (1972) for alto saxophone and string orchestra. The composition opens with a cadenza that is steeped in a jazz-based harmonic language followed by an Allegro moderato section that establishes a driving rhythmic pattern with syncopation that is characteristic of Brazilian popular music.
Liduino Pitombeira (b. 1962) is a prolific composer from the northeastern state of Ceará. Currently, the composer lives and teaches in Rio de Janeiro. Pitombeira’s music often incorporates the undeniable rhythmic drive of the folk music from his native region of northeastern Brazil set in a fresh, modern vernacular, utilizing electronics and serial techniques.
Seresta No. 1, Op. 55b (2001) for alto saxophone and piano was originally written for cello and piano as part of the series titled Seresta that began in 2001. The first movement, “Lamento,” is built upon the Lydian-Mixolydian scale, a mode common to northeastern folk music while the second movement, “Choro,” marries contemporary harmonic language with the rhythmic and formal principals of popular genre for which it is named.
Programming
11/07/2015 12:45 - 13:15
Cité de la musique et de la danse - Salle 22
Musicians / speakers
- Van Goes Paula / soprano saxophone (United States)
Program
- Seresta No. 1, Op. 55b for alto saxophone and piano (Liduino Pitombeira)
- Valse Triste (Radamés Gnattali)
- Fantasia Capricho for alto saxophone and piano (Nelson Macêdo)
Videos