Bocetos de Cullera

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Bocetos de Cullera was commissioned by the Ateneo Musical de Cullera; Vicente Soler Solano, Conductor, Vicent Navarrete Giménez, President; for performance in July 2014 for the Certamen de Bandas de Valencia. The beginning fanfare of Bocetos de Cullera was inspired by the sign on the mountain spelling “CULLERA”. It reminded me of the Hollywood sign that is in the United States. To me this “CULLERA” sign gives a warm welcome to everybody entering the town. To me it makes the town very special. I wanted to begin the piece very strongly with a forte brass fanfare. The first three notes of this fanfare also sing the word “Cullera”. This three-note motive returns many times in the piece as the piece is built on the word “Cullera”. I also know that the Ateneo band is famous for it’s very good brass section. I thought it would be a good beginning to the piece. After the beginning fanfare, I wanted to display some of the very good solo performers of the band. The bassoon, French horn and oboe solos over the clarinet ostinato I feel show a good complement 2nd theme to the brass fanfare beginning. The development of both the “Cullera” three note theme and the 2nd theme develop throughout the first movement culminating in a very active final section. The second movement features the flute and tuba extensively. As Cullera is a popular summer destination for many people, I wanted to compose a programmatic movement where a person fondly remembers a summer in the past when he/she had romantic summer episodes with a special person that terminated at the end of that summer. There are several “dream sequences” remembering past romantic nights. Looking back at that summer many years ago – why did the romance stop in September? Why did the person not pursue that “special” person after September of that summer? Where is that “special” person now? What could have happened if he/she would have pursued that “special” person after that “special” summer? Was it a lost opportunity – or did everything turn out for the best? He/she always will wonder what might have been. The last movement “El Mar” starts with a very active melodic line played in unison by the entire band. This quazi “bebop jazz melody” displays the virtuosity of all of the wonderful musicians of the Ateneo and also shows how the water at the beach can have it’s own personality – often very active but sometime calm. The solo melody first played by the solo clarinet is then developed throughout in many instruments. The ending fanfare brings back the name “Cullera” played by the entire band. In the 2014 Certamen the band played with 140 band members, the maximum allowed in the competition. Of the 140 members, were many professional musicians, all from Cullera. Along with the usual band instrumentation are Flugelhorns, a cello section and a double bass section. Instrumentation is: Piccolo, 2 Flutes 2 Oboes, English Horn, 2 Bassoons, Contra Bassoon, Eb Clarinet, Principal Clarinet, 3 Clarinets, Alto Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Contrabass Clarinet in Bb, Soprano Saxophone, 2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, Eb Trumpet, 3 Trumpets, 2 Flugelhorns, 4 Horns, 2 Trombones, Bass Trombone, 2 Euphoniums, 2 Tubas, Timpani, Cello, Double Bass, Harp, Piano, Percussion (6 players – snare drum, bass drum, triangle, suspended cymbal, crash cymbals, water gong, wood block, tam tam, root toms, castinets, vibe slap, wind chimes, spring drum, tenor drums (4), claves, bongos (2), wind chimes, orchestra bells, vibraphone, xylophone)