WORKS
I am interested in re-signifying pre-existing elements of traditional Colombian music by studying and re-elaborating them while focusing especially in both texture and timbre. Throughout the years, my aesthetic explorations and the end-resulting compositions have focused on migrating different sounds from their usual contexts into new ones, finding -through said journeys- a contemplation of different spirits and meanings.
In process
I am currently working on a variety of pieces - each one of them very different in character and serving different artistic and aesthetic explorations by different artists. I am always glad to be brought out of my comfort zone although I cannot deny how wonderful it is to work collaboratively in a project that vibrates deeply with my own personal musical explorations.
El silencio al rojo gira como un sol
The Burning-Red Silence rotates like a Sun (2023 - in process)
For saxophone quartet
Scheduled to be premiered by Sigma Project
at the Festival de Música Sacra de Bogotá in 2023. Stay tuned!
(aún sin nombre), cuarteto de cuerdas no. 6
(without a name yet), string quartet no. 6 (2023 - in process)
For string quartet
Scheduled to be premiered by Cuarteto Q-Arte in 2022. Stay tuned!
Solo piano
I began my music studies by studying piano performance. That is why I have a special relationship with writing for this instrument. I love navigating the thickness of its low register’s strikes and resonances, in contrast with the crystalline and glacial landscapes of its high register. In some of my works I have combined my appreciation for the sound of the marimba de chonta from Guapi with the enormous possibilities that the piano, this magnificent European-built artifact allows for; I guess some of my pieces embody the symphonic versus the jungle piano duality.
Mazurka
Mazurka (2022)
For solo piano
Commissioned by Anna Kijanowska for the Mazurka 21 project
Scheduled to be premiered in 2023. Stay tuned!
De adoración y espanto
Of Adoration and Fright (2020)
Commissioned by Yael Weiss for 32 Bright Clouds
Not yet perfomed. Stay tuned!
Reflejos de Aquarius
Reflections of Aquarius (2020)
Commissioned by CCMC and Johann Hasler
Not yet performed. Stay tuned!
Danzas fugitivas
Fugitive Dances (2020)
Commissioned by Mauricio Arias-Esguerra
Premiered by Mauricio Arias-Esguerra on February 3, 2021
at Teatro Mayor Julio Mario Santo Domingo (Bogotá)
Mioclonía
Myoclonus (2000)
Premiered by Karol Bermúdez on May 2003
at Auditorio Teresa Cuervo - National Museum (Bogotá)
Other solo works
All the solo works I have written have been commissions that have allowed me to work directly with the performers who were in charge of premiering them. This way of working allows for a fluid, constant and very intense communication between me and the performer. I love the intimacy and exploration that can be achieved while working this way. I am very proud of the final result with all of them.
Revelaciones suspendidas
Suspended Revelations (2023)
For prepared violin
Scheduled to be premiered by Juan Carlos Higuita at the Festival Mujeres en la Música Nueva FMMN in 2023. Stay tuned!
Caen niñas de papel de variados colores
Multi-Colored Paper Girls are Falling (2023)
For solo organ
Commissioned by Universidad de los Andes
Scheduled to be premiered by Vincent Heitzer in 2023. Stay tuned!
Canto interior
Inner Singing (2022)
For solo oboe
Written by invitation of José Luis Urquieta
Premiered by José Luis Urquieta on October 30, 2022 at Det Gamle Rådhus i Nørresundby (Denmark) as part of The New Latin American Oboe project, organized by Snow Mask Composers’ Group.
Canto del ave negra
Song of the Black Bird (2017)
For solo accordion
Written by invitation of Jorge García
Premiered by Eva Zöllner on August 5, 2017
at Aula Múltiple, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Bogotá)
El doble del doble
Double the double (2015)
For solo violin
Commissioned by Roberto Alonso Trillo for the ...Bach... project
Not yet premiered. Stay tuned!
Latidos de lo oscuro
Darkbeats (2015)
For solo harp
Written for Maria Clara Alarcón
Premiered by Maria Clara Alarcón on June 10, 2016
at Auditorio Teresa Cuervo - National Museum (Bogotá)
Chirimías metálicas
Metallic chirmías (2009)
For solo flute
Written by invitation of Shanna Pranaitis
Premiered on August 4, 2009
at Auditorio Pablo VI of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Bogotá)
Elegía errante
Drifting Elegy (2008, rev 2009)
For solo viola
Written by invitation of Alfonso Noriega
Premiered by Rose Redgrave on December 15, 2009
at the Old Joint Stock Pub and Theatre.
Revised version premiered by Garth Knox on February 8, 2010
at the Frontiers Series of the Birmingham Conservatoire (Birmingham, UK)
String quartets, string trio, and piano quartet
I am fascinated by the family of bowed string instruments. In many of my works for string ensembles, I have borrowed Berio’s idea of ‘translation’ to imagine instruments of the Colombian Pacific Coast, especially the marimba de chonta, by using explosive pizzicati and rustic col legno strikes. Also, I have become quite passionate of the sonorities I have discovered by exploring the relationship between bowed-string instruments of popular rural traditions and bowed-string instruments of the Western symphonic tradition.
Éxodo celeste - tierra negra, cuarteto de cuerdas no. 5
Heavenly Exodus - Black Earth, string quartet no. 5 (2023)
For string quartet
Written by invitation of Cuarteto Q-Arte
Commissioned by the Research Vice-rectory of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
Scheduled to be premiered by Cuarteto Q-Arte in 2023. Stay tuned!
Cantos introspectivos, cuarteto de cuerdas no. 4
Introspective Chants, string quartet no. 4 (2021)
For string quartet
Commissioned by the Embassy of Colombia in Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Premiered by the Latin American String Quartet on November 24, 2021
at the Composers Series at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
Noche de reyes sin corona, cuarteto de cuerdas no. 3
Night of Crownless Kings, string quartet no. 3 (2018)
For string quartet
Commissioned by Banco de la República de Colombia
Premiered by Quatuor Diotima on March 6, 2019
at Sala de conciertos - Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango (Bogotá)
Appears on Compositores de nuestro tiempo Vol. 4 (Banco de la República, 2019)
Cuarteto palenquero, cuarteto de cuerdas no. 2
Palenquero Quartet, string quartet no. 2 (2010)
For string quartet
Premiered by Cuarteto Manolov on October 23, 2020
at Auditorio Fabio Lozano (Bogotá)
Appears on Formas de recuerdos sin territorio (Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, 2016)
Pedazos de chonta
Pieces of chonta (2008)
For piano quartet
Premiered by the Schubert Ensemble on February 2009
at the Birmingham Conservatoire Recital Hall (Birmingham, UK)
Hypotenuse
Hypotenuse (2007)
For string trio
Premiered by Cuarteto Manolov on June 4, 2016
at the Aula Múltiple of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana's Arts School (Bogotá)
Quattuor verba, cuarteto de cuerdas no. 1
Quattuor verba, string quartet no. 1 (2006)
For string quartet
Premiered by Cuarteto Manolov on September 11, 2009
at Sala de conciertos - Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango (Bogotá)
Duets
The contrapuntal dialogues that can be created within a duet have no parallel. I really like the flirtatiousness and mutual support that one can establish within this format, as well as the fluid nature of the role that each instrument can have throughout the piece.
Canto para dormir
Song for sleeping (2021)
For soprano and piano
Written by invitation of Carolina Plata and Luis Gabriel Mesa
Scheduled to be premiered in 2023. Stay tuned!
Otros pedazos de chonta
Other Pieces of Chonta (2016)
For piano four hands
Written by invitation Kondraschewa / Chica Duo
Premiered by Kondraschewa / Chica Duo on May 11, 2016 at Teatro Colón (Bogotá)
Furias
Furies (2011)
For violin and piano
Premiered by Mary Dullea and Darragh Morgan on May 16, 2011
at the Birmingham Conservatoire Recital Hall (Birmingham, UK)
Score for sale available here
Masks
Máscaras (2009)
For mezzo-soprano and clarinet in Bb
Based on Masks by Oz Hardwick
Commissioned by Leeds + Lieder 2009 / Leeds College of Music
Premiered by Helena Raeburn (mezzo) and Benjamin Graves (Bb cl.) on October 3, 2009
at The Venue, Leeds College of Music (Leeds, UK) during the 2009 edition of LEEDS Lieder
Mecanismos
Mechanisms (2003)
For cello and piano
Premiered on May 25, 2003 by Mintcho Badev and Karol Bermúdez
at Auditorio Teresa Cuervo - National Museum (Bogotá)
Other chamber works
I love writing meticulously, intimately, in a personal manner and in an elaborate way. I enjoy bringing the small particularities of sound under the limelight so that they can stop being something ornamental or involuntary and, rather, become the main avenue of the musical discourse and of my writing. I have found that I can enjoy doing this not only by writing for small ensembles but also even for a sinfonietta.
Lo abierto
What is Open (2022)
For bassoon and two percussionists
Written by invitation of Lía Uribe
Commissioned by SoNA
Premiered by Lía Uribe in 2022.
Extravíos
Loss (2022)
For clarinets and accordion
Written for the Zöllner-Roche Duo and CCMC, with funding from the Goethe Institut
Premiered by the Zöllner-Roche Duo on November 12, 2022
at Auditorio Fabio Lozano (Bogotá)
Ferocious: Contorting Femininities
Feroz: femineidades contorsionantes (2021)
For sinfonietta
Commissioned by Donaueschinger Musiktage
Written for Klangforum Wien
Premiered on October 15, 2021
at the Große Sporthalle of the Realschule Donaueschingen (Donaueschingen, Germany)
Alumbramiento
Delivery (2019)
For mezzo-soprano, doublebass, lighting and image projection
Based on the book 'Esta que (no) soy' by Clara López Colmano
Commissioned by Dúo Botero/Delgado
Premiered by Dúo Botero/Delgado on November 19, 2020
at Teatro Mayor Julio Mario Santo Domingo (Bogotá)
El brujo
The Warlock (2017)
For brass quintet and percussion
Premiered by Cuprum Ensamble on September 12, 2018
at the Aula Múltiple of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana's Gerardo Arango building (Bogotá)
Fiestas de Pubenza
Feasts of Pubenza (2013)
For quintet (fl., cl., pno., vla., vclo.)
Premiered by Rafael Rodríguez (fl), Jose Gómez (cl), David Merchán (vla), Mintcho Badev (vcl), Juan Carlos de la Pava (pno) and Luis Guillermo Vicaría (conductor) on June 4, 2016
at the Aula Múltiple of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana's Arts School (Bogotá)
Desórbitas
Desorbits (2013)
For two pianos y two percussion sets
Written by invitation of Yarn/Wire
Premiered by Als Eco on June 4, 2016
at the Aula Múltiple of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana's Arts School (Bogotá)
Giros y rostros
Turns and faces (2010)
For four instruments (bass cl., db., vla., vcl.)
Written for an exchange project between
the Royal College of Music of Stockholm and the Birmingham Conservatoire.
Premiered by Jack McNeill (bass cl.), Sebastiano Dessanay (db.), Sofia Lundström (vla.),
Daniel Tengberg (vcl.) and Joe Cutler (conductor) in February, 2011
during the Frontiers Series at the Birmingham Conservatoire Recital Hall (Birmingham, UK)
My lonely Cumbia
Mi cumbia solitaria (2009)
For small ensemble (fl., cl., pc., pno., vl., vclo.)
Premiered by The Curious Chamber Players conducted by Rei Munakata
on November 30, 2009 during the Frontiers Series at the
Birmingham Conservatoire Recital Hall (Birmingham, UK)
Nocturno
Nocturne (2009)
For ensemble (fl., ob., cl., bn., hn., pc., vl. 1-2, vla., vcl.)
Premiered by Orchestra of the Swan, conducted by David Curtis on June 18, 2009
at the Birmingham Conservatoire Recital Hall (Birmingham, UK)
Alborada
Dawn (2007)
For ensemble (cl., bn., tpt., tbn., vl., db., perc. 1 y 2)
Premiered by Ensamble deciBelio conducted by Patricia Vanegas
in 2007 at Auditorio Pablo VI of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Bogotá)
Missa
Mass (2007)
For baritone, percussion and live electronics
Written by invitation of Chi-Hoe Mak
Premiered on Junio 5, 2007 by Chi-Hoe Mak (bar.), Wei-Hsin Cheng (perc.),
and Carolina Noguera and Lamberto Coccioli (elec.) during the Frontiers Series
at the Birmingham Conservatoire Recital Hall (Birmingham, UK)
En luz y sombra: disertaciones para tuba y ensamble
In Light and Shadow: dissertations for tuba and ensemble (2006)
For tuba and ensemble (tb., bass cl., perc., db.)
Premiered by Jorge Quinteros (tb), Miller Yate Martínez (bass cl), Rafael Ochoa (perc) and Ángela Contreras (db) conducted by Rafael Zambrano on October 28, 2007
at Auditorio León de Greiff - Universidad Nacional (Bogotá)
Orchestra, band and vocal ensemble
This is a broad category! However… the symphony orchestra is one of the best machines I know. Its massive murmurs and its potent rants blow my head. Although I have not worked much with vocal ensembles, the ‘choral vibration’ presents an immersive, colorful, mystic experience, full of delicate yet potent visceral textures that expose the beauty and fragility of human nature. On the other hand, working with bands has helped me shape and experiment with the spontaneity of popular music and the premeditation and circumspection of written music. Bands have a vigorous, intense and penetrating sound from which an impetuous vitality can always be distilled.
Ama
Love (2022)
For vocal ensemble (SATB), string quintet and two percussions
Financed by the research vice-rectory (vice-chancellory) of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
Premiered by Coro de Cámara de la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana conducted by Ana Paulina Álvarez, Fredy Leonardo Romero (violin), José Luis Martínez (violin), Carlos Parra (viola), Maria Fernanda Flórez (cello), Óscar Charry (double bass), Jeisson Marín and Eduardo Caicedo (percussion) on May 17, 2022
Auditorio Fabio Lozano, Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano, Bogotá (Colombia)
Autumn Whisperings
Susurros de otoño (2010)
For orchestra
Premiered by the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire's Symphony orchestra
conducted by Edwin Roxbourgh on March 18, 2011
during the Frontiers Series at the Birmingham Conservatoire Recital Hall (Birmingham, UK)
Tres suites para banda
Three Band Suites (2005)
For symphonic band
Winner of the 2005 Colombian Ministry of Culture's creation grant
Suite No. 1 premiered by the Symphonic Band of Colegio INEM Jorge Isaacs (Cali) conducted
by Germán Hoyos on April 13, 2006 at an open-air concert in Barrio San Antonio (Cali)
Suite No. 2 premiered by the Tocancipá Symphonic Band conducted by Germán Hernández
on August 21, 2008 during the Villeta Band Competition in (Villeta)
Suite No. 3 premiered by the Valle Symphonic Band conducted by Esteban Rojas
on November 13, 2006 at Beethoven Hall during the Cali Contemporary Music Festival (Cali)