New CD available (See below)
CONCERTS WITH SYMPHONY AND CHAMBER ORCHESTRAS
Personally invited by the late Phia Berghout, Founder of the World Harp
Congress,
Alfredo was featured soloist at the Opening Concert of the First World Harp
Congress,
in Holland, 1983, performing his own compositions with the Royal Symphonic Band.
"South American Suite for Harp and Orchestra"
by
Alfredo Rolando Ortiz
Orchestrated by Paul Hurst
On March 3rd, 1996, Alfredo performed the premiere of his
South American Suite for Harp and Orchestra,
with the Tulare County Symphony, California, conducted by David André.
(Orchestration commissioned by Alfredo to Paul Hurst)
. . . due to the long standing ovation and at the request
of orchestra members,
conductor David André acquiesced to a repeat of the last movement!
He also performed his South American Suite at
TELDA (Third Latin American Harpists Encounter)
with Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho Symphony Orchestra,
Conducted by Rodolfo Saglimbeni,
Caracas, Venezuela, October, 1998
New Mexico Symhony Orchestra, three performances, March, 1999
Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra, May 2nd, 1999
Arizona State University Symphony, two concerts, September, 1999
El Paso Symphony Orchestra, four concerts, July and September, 2000
Invited by Jana Bouskova, he performed his South American
Suite at the
Seventh World Harp Congress, Prague, Czech Republic, 1999,
with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Auckland Philharmonia, New Zealand, November 2001
Istanbul Borusan Philharmonic Orchestra, two concerts,
December 2001
St. Matthew's Chamber Orchestra, Pacific Palisades,
California, June 6, 2003
Photo: Rehearsal with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Bladimir
Valek.
Friday, July 23rd, 1999. Spanish Hall, Prague Castle, Czech Republic.
The audience included over one thousand harpists from around the world.
South American Suite for Harp and Orchestra
©MCMXCV Alfredo Rolando Ortiz, AROY
MUSIC
Note: It can also be performed with Chamber Orchestra.
ALL about my Suite (Well . . . almost all):
It is in five movements plus an improvisation (See below)
Instrumentation: Flute1/piccolo, flute 2/alto flute, oboe 1 &
2, Bb clarinet 1 & 2, bassoon,
horn in F 1 & 2, Bb trumpet 1 & 2, tenor & bass trombone, timpani,
percussion and strings.
The creation of the "South American Suite for Harp and Orchestra:"
For several years I had been thinking of commissioning the orchestration
of my "South American Suite," a collection of five pieces in contrasting
South American music styles. In 1992, I heard a recorded version of one
of my compositions, Sueño Español (Spanish Dream), beautifully
performed on pedal harp by Paul Hurst. Mr. Hurst was also a pianist and
orchestrator and specialized in computer music notation. Talking to Mr.
Hurst about my ideas, I felt that I had found the person with both, the
technical knowledge and the sensitivity I was looking for, to orchestrate
my Suite.
I commissioned the orchestration in 1993. Giving him the original solo harp
versions of my compositions for the Suite, as well as some of my versions
accompanied by traditional instruments, he began the orchestration. Besides
the many long hours he worked on the project, we worked together many more
hours on many details, making sure that the unique style and character of
each one of my compositions, were preserved.
While touring in Alaska, in November of 1995, a phone call from my wife
informed me that David André, Music Director of the Tulare County
Symphony, California, had called to ask if I had music for harp and orchestra.
At that time, only one of the movements, Andina, was still to be orchestrated.
Both parts of Andina were kept very close to my original composition for
harp, guitars, charango and quenas (Inca flutes). The strumming of some
of the original instruments was given to the strings, strumming "guitar
style." In the slow, haunting first part, the bassoon was assigned
a phrase originally for guitar, while my theme for the quenas was given
to a piccolo and a flute and, at other times, the oboes. The lively final
part . . . well, just listen to that fun part and dance along!
In December of 1995 the music score was ready.
The Premiere of the South American Suite for Harp and Orchestra took place
March 3rd, 1996, at the L. J. Williams Theater, Visalia, California, performed
by the Tulare County Symphony, conducted by David André. I was the
harp soloist. It was one of the most emotionally intense moments of my career
. . . only second to the experience of playing in the delivery room during
the birth of our second daughter, fifteen years before.
Enjoy the music!
Alfredo Rolando Ortiz
Here is some more specific info:
ABOUT THE MOVEMENTS:
COLOMBIANA: "Villavicencio"
This is a "joropo," a lively harp music genre from the plains
of Colombia and Venezuela. This piece is dedicated to Colombia and to the
city of Villavicencio, in the Colombian plains, where every year a music
festival celebrates the traditional music of the llanos (plains).
VENEZOLANA: "El Río" (The River)
This is a "tonada," a traditional harp music genre from the Venezuelan
plains. I dedicate this piece to Venezuela and to Juan Vicente Torrealba,
Venezuelan harpist and composer whose music had a great impact on me upon
my arrival in Venezuela as a child.
ANDINA
The Andes, the valleys, the mountains reaching high in the sky, from jungle
to snow, from Machu Pichu to Cuzco, from Inca to Spanish, the elements of
this rich culture are the basis of this piece. In its two very distinctive
parts I have used the same mixture of indigenous and Spanish elements present
in much of their music.
ECUADOR
Dedicated to that beautiful South American country, this piece is in the
genre of "pasillo," very popular in its mountain regions.
IMPROVISACION (Improvisation)
Ecuador ends with a solo harp improvisation which will be different every
time the Suite is performed. Using elements of South American music genres,
this improvisation will arrive at the main theme of "Paraguaya,"
without interruption. For the premiere, March, 1996, the improvisation was
based on themes, originally improvised years ago, dedicated to my wife Luz
Marina and the birth of our daughters, Luzma and Michelle. To them I dedicated
that improvisation,
with all my love.
PARAGUAYA: "Zayante"
This piece is a"galopa" (also called "polca paraguaya"),
the most characteristic harp music genre of Paraguay. Originally dedicated
to friends in the area of Santa Cruz, California, who had fallen in love
with the harp and music from Paraguay, I gave it the title "Zayante,"
a beautiful word which identifies an indigenous tribe which used to live
in the area of Santa Cruz. I dedicate this new version of "Zayante"
to Paraguay, land of the harp, and to the memory of my Paraguayan harp teacher,
Alberto Romero.
NOTES ABOUT THE INSTRUMENT:
The PARAGUAYAN HARP (arpa paraguaya): Since their origin with the Spanish
harps of the XVI, XVII and XVIII centuries, different types of harps and
musical styles were developed throughout South America and Mexico, "lands
of the harps." The "arpa paraguaya" is the National Instrument
of Paraguay. For more information see Books,Videos,
Harps & More
New CD available Now:
SOUTH AMERICAN SUITE FOR HARP AND ORCHESTRA
Alfredo Rolando Ortiz, AROY MUSIC
Orchestrated by Paul Hurst
El Paso Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Gürer Aykal
Paraguayan harp: Alfredo Rolando Ortiz
Also in the same CD:
Premiere recording of
VENEZOLANA FOR FIVE PEDAL HARPS
Alfredo Rolando Ortiz, AROY MUSIC
Performed by members of "HarpFusion:"
Dr. Carrol McLaughlin, Director
Hiroko Saito, Jennifer Wehmueller,
Tatyana Shapiro and Jaymee Schmuck
For more information visit RECORDINGS