Noticias

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At the National Conservatory of music

Mexican students coexist with the London Sinfonietta

October 23, 2015

As part of their Mexican tour, the London Sinfonietta gave a concert at the National Conservatory of Music, where its director, Garry Walker spoke with music students who gathered and with whom he shared the details of the compositions that the English orchestra played.

After their successful presentation on Thursday October 22 at the Palace of Fine Arts, the group founded in 1968 dedicated to the dissemination of modern and contemporary music took advantage of their stay in our country to live with Mexican students.

 David Rodríguez de la Peña, director of the National Conservatory of Music, welcomed the presence of Londoners in the place, because, he said, they make "one of the most representative contemporary music ensembles worldwide, they have played more than 300 contemporary works, as well as hundreds of premieres, they have their own record label called London Sinfonietta Label. I think that in these times where we do not know much about our music, an assembly of this kind is needed, not only for the dissemination of this music, but for the support of young composers in the world. "

In this regard, Garry Walker recalled that the mission of the London Sinfonietta is to diffuse new music, since there is much talk of classical music like a museum and today it is necessary to interpret the music of the present that in a future will become classic.

 For this concert, conducted with support from the National Institute of Fine Arts and the British Council, under the Dual Year Mexico-UK, the London Sinfonietta performed two pieces of British composers: Carmen Arcadiae mechanicae perpetuum by Harrison Birtwhistle, and Contraflow by Colin Matthews.

Before each piece, Garry Walker explains to the students of the Conservatory as well as from the CEDART Luis Spota, some details of the works, as the influences that the composers had and he even showed the scores to learn the notes and rhythmic figures.

Carmen arcadiae mechanicae perpetuum, considered a masterpiece by Harrison Birtwistle, which dates from 1977, he said that it is a bit rough piece, but very firm, inspired by Cubism taking objects to be seen from different perspectives and angles as well as from Roman writings carved in stone without punctuation, so the composer continually made a piece without spaces.

Although it has very simple elements, he said, the composer makes the work to be listened with coherence and very interesting, since he showed the scores, he explained that each group of instruments plays a rhythmic cell different from the others.

The concert continued with Contraflow by Colin Matthews, a piece written in 1992, which is a "concertante" work, Garry Walker said because all instruments have a section that are soloists, creating a sort of counterpoint or fight in the input of each of the instruments.

 The director of the London Sinfonietta also made clarifications on the overall structure of the work, rhythm, melody, timing and voices, so that students could learn in detail the characteristics and patterns of music.

After the performance of both pieces followed by each applause, the members of the London Sinfonietta talked with the students in the lobby of Silvestre Revueltas Auditorium of the National Conservatory of Music, to share their experiences and give encouragement to young musicians.

It should be noted that the London Sinfonietta will give a concert in our country on Saturday October 24 at 21:00 pm in the Teatro Juárez of Guanajuato, under the 43 Cervantino International Festival.

 

Mexico,Distrito Federal