From all of these things emerged, Greg’s, Nathaniel’s, and I new collaboration, Mother of Exiles. They asked me to compose a new art song using Emma Lazarus’s poem The New Colossus. When they asked me to do this, I honestly felt small and felt chills go down my spine. Lazarus’s poem is a titan in USA’s literature history. For the sake of anything divine, part of the poem is chiseled in the Statue of Liberty! I was “shooketh.”
Read MoreMy second symphony is an offering to my Afro-Caribbean roots through the filter of the experiences I, as well as my fellow Puerto Ricans, have faced in this country.
Read MoreBeing myself a Latino composer, member of the already big and growing community of non-white classical musicians and, knowing the general values and ideologies shared between the classical musicians community, made me question the lack of diversity in musical institutions.
Read MoreI might be getting away from the central topic of the original article but that quote made me think about some things in our musical actuality. The way we listen music, what the academy teach us about music, what we expect of music and new music and most importantly what music means to us.
As Maestro Egarr clearly stated, one only need to read and do some simple research to know that music meant serious emotional stuff to people in the 17th century, and I would dare to say earlier and later in history too. But today… how do we listen today?
Read MoreThere is no bigger excitement for a composer than to receive a commission. Some would say than is better to get a premiere or a piece performed many times but, in my case, I love to compose so getting the opportunity to write new music its always a delight. I prefer this because it involves a process I strongly respect. When a composer receives a commission its because a musician(s) or ensemble have esteem and trust in the composer’s artistic craftsmanship. For this reason, I find great joy and enthusiasm when I receive such opportunity.
In this particular case, Puerto Rico’s most talented and respected harpist, Elisa Torres, entrusted me to create a piece of music for Guitar, Cello and Harp. The cello and harp combination is rather common and their tone colors combine in a cohesive and balancing manner. Now, adding the guitar, that’s a whole different story…
Read MoreOnline home of composer and conductor Ivan E. Rodriguez
