Scores

El Viento

Study Score, Downloadable

Duration 11:30 $30.00

Solos

Solos are in the guitar, trombone 3, and trumpet 4

Instrumentation

Regular 5, 4, 4, guitar, piano, bass and drums, and we included an accordion part in case you find yourself doing other pieces of mine with accordion.

The offer contains

  • Downloadable PDF study score (transposed) for "El Viento"
  • Streamed video of Maria discussing the composition of this work
  • Streamed audio interview with guitarist, Ben Monder
  • Downloadable PDF sketches for this work

Description

Recorded on Coming About, "El Viento" was written in 1994 as a commission for the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra. I was inspired to write it after seeing Paco de Lucia play at Lincoln Center. But prior to that, the first 10% of this piece was written after I'd spent endless weeks listening to Hindemith's Kammermusik. I'd brought that "first 10%" into the band to test those initial ideas, and thought it would be called "Cellophane." Yes, don't ask me! I liked aspects of what I'd written, but was at a loss as to how to incorporate the whole rhythm section aspect, and ended up putting it on the shelf. It felt very confused and un-grounded from the rhythm/groove perspective. I fully expected I'd never revisit the material again.

But, upon hearing and seeing Paco de Lucia's group perform in New York, and at the same time, being faced with a big commission, suddenly I thought to pull out my sketches and completely rethink and reconstruct that first material in a sort-of flamenco-tinged direction. It worked beautifully and soon became "El Viento." The piece creates a long build, using three soloists to slowly bring it to its fiery climax. And while it's just in 3/4, it often doesn't feel like it, so it's a tough one to perform.

I've found a few sketches that I included as downloads, and added an audio interview with Ben Monder who solos on the recording. I've also made a video for you where I discuss my writing perspective on this piece.

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