Amanecer and Pequeña Venecia: two compositions for horn

by Gabriella Ibarra and José Luis Colmenares.

To play arrangements and compositions by José Luis has always been a spirited challenge for me. As a musician skilled in all the technical, interpretive, and expressive resources of the instrument, he knows very well how to best show off the horn’s varied sound qualities. His musical career has always been balanced between his roles as an orchestral horn player and as an arranger/composer through which he has been able to effectively showcase his talent by contributing to the repertoire of renowned groups such as the Canadian Brass who recorded his arrangement of the Venezuelan waltz Andreina, originally written by Antonio Lauro. Here is that performance: Canadian Brass performs Vals Andreina.

Following is a synopsis of the two featured works as described by the composer.

Amanecer
Concerto for two horns and orchestra in C minor
Venezuela, 2016

Movement I

The first movement is an Allegro, evoking Argentine and Spanish airs with dynamic interaction between questions and answers, and the orchestra plays a prominent role while accompanying the solo horns. Structurally, moments of climax can be heard which move in forced harmonic blocks along with the interplay of numerous countermelodies. At the end of the first movement, a cadenza, inspired by traditional milking songs of the Venezuelan composer Simón Díaz, features the soloists.

Movement II

Inspired by the Tonada de Luna Llena (Full Moon Tune), a tapestry of sound contrasts is developed over a full orchestration, and an atmosphere generated by the rhythm of the Venezuelan merengue accompanied by crystalline sonorities provides notable moments and smooth textures.

Movement III

The closing movement is more epic, with harmonies at cardinal points that bring to mind cinematic music in which the entire orchestral horn section along with the two soloists are given prominence by the use of bright colors and with a relentless call in the timpani. The brass section maintains presence throughout the piece, emulating great symphonic works, with solos by the concertino and a highly virtuosic development presented by the woodwinds.

This work is available in versions for 2 horns and orchestra, 2 horns and concert band, and 2 horns with piano reduction.

The world premiere took place in November 2016 with the Aragua Symphony Orchestra conducted by Moiceli Medina at the Maracay Opera House. The soloists are José Luis Colmenares on horn 1 and Carmelo Cacioppo on horn 2. The performance can be seen here: Concert for Two Horns and Orchestra "AMANECER"

Romanza Pequeña Venecia
Work for Solo Horn
Venezuela, 2015

“In 1499, Alonso de Ojeda, accompanied by Américo Vespucio, arrived in his ship at the Gulf of Coquivacoa. There he saw the small houses of the Indians built on the sea supported by wooden posts which reminded him of Venice, and so he gave the place the name ‘Little Venice,’ which we now know as Venezuela.”

This is my first work composed for Horn Solo. The piece begins with a tonada, the song performed by farmers at the time of milking so that the cow feels loved and pampered. The milker takes the name of the cow and sings to her, and the cow, motivated by the song, gives much more milk than normal—and dairy experts say that its flavor is much better. In the Allegro, the horn makes a call similar to that of a shofar. Then a Venezuelan merengue introduces the El Becerrito theme, written in 5/8 time. This is an original song composed by the eminent Venezuelan musician Simón Díaz. The merengue in 5/8 gives the sensation of walking as if with a lame foot, and it evolves, eventually  returning to the call from the beginning but with more presence and impetus.

Finally, I resumed the milking song and immediately, to provide a more traditional stamp, I took the theme Alma Llanera and developed it to create a convincing ending. We must remember that we are the essence of our ancestors, for other countries of the world will not know our culture if we do not preserve our roots.

Both compositions are available for purchase in PDF format, and you can request them by contacting: jlcomusichorn@gmail.com

José Luis Colmenares began his musical studies at the age of 7 at the Táchira State Symphony Orchestra, one of the centers of El Sistema for the National Children's Orchestras in Venezuela. At the age of 18, he moved to the capital where he took classes at the Simón Bolívar Conservatory and at the Superior School of Music. He joined the National Philharmonic Orchestra as third horn, and after four years he won the principal horn position, serving there from 1989 to 2017. Along with his playing career, he has avidly pursued his career as an arranger and composer.