Listen to the 1st movement, Sordid Dance, on YouTube
Listen to the 2nd movement, In the Darkness, on YouTube
Instrumentation
2 Flutes (2nd doubling Piccolo)
2 Oboes
2 Clarinets in Bb (2nd doubling Bass Clarinet)
2 Bassoons
3 Horns in F
2 Trumpets in Bb (1st doubling Piccolo Trumpet in A)
2 Trombones
1 Bass Trombone (doubling Baritone)
Tuba
Percussion 1: Suspended Cymbal, Snare Drum, Marimba, Claves, Tam-tam
Percussion 2: Vibraphone, Gran Cassa, Wood Blocks, Whip
Strings
______________________________________________________________________________________
Carnynx, for orchestra.
Duration: 12 minutes.
Though not a programmatic piece, most of the content of this work has been influenced by some images which kept involuntarily coming to my mind during the whole compositional process. The word "carnynx" has no meaning in any language and it was invented in order to express, fonetically, the general feeling that the present piece arouses in me. In the first movement, 'Sordid Dance', the sinous melodic lines draw with elegance the bodily movements of a couple enveloped in a dance of seduction and sensuality. Whereas the harmonic structure is based on chords built upon thirds, the horizontal plane is dominated by the interval of fifth. Nevertheless, this interval should be considered just as a coloring of the melodic line. This is demonstrated by the fact that most of the melodies are being doubled a fifth above. This movement has the character of a moto perpetuo and is intended to be an organic unity from the beginning to the end. The whole piece can also be said to be born from the very first measures.
The second movement, 'In the Darkness', has a gestural quality to it. Though the harmonic and melodic principles are similar to those of the first movement, they are here explored in diverse ways. The energy grows from an almost imperceptible pianissimo at the beginning as the strings are introduced subtlely with the use of sordinas and the wind players are asked to breath. This apparent calm turns menacing as the lower register starts to convulse in agitated crescendos which lead to a ferocious brass section solo based upon the main motive (of the first movement). The whole orchestra is then introduced. The narrative character of this movement suggests the underlying existence of a powerful yet inexpressible story. Certainly, it carries a meaning which cannot be conveyed in words.
Jimmy López © 2002