Prelude to the Bar for String Quartet by Edwin O. Munera performs by MusicWorks Collective Quartet

No Land’s Man Project

This production contains instrumental pieces of contemporary music that were inspired by multiple countries and cities that I have lived in. These pieces reflect a diversity of different cultural experiences, aesthetic moments, and human and spiritual journeys, expressed in a palette of musical materials. My music incorporates syncopated dance rhythms from my native Colombia, universal musical structures like the pentatonic scales that are shared by peoples from the Andes to traditional Asian, African or Iris music, and western classic concert music traditions, but as instrumental music it is accessible to everyone regardless of cultural background. My interest is to share reflections on the sense of belonging to a land through music.

Y Entonces... Suite Colombiana for Guitar and String Quartet (2019)

Performers:

Lilit Hartunian, violin
Samuel Graber-Hahn, violin
Anna Griffis, viola
Emmanuel Feldman, Cello
Edwin Munera, Guitar

Excerpts from: Y Entonces... Suite Colombiana for Guitar and String Quartet(2019)

Dance Choreography by Jenny Oliver

Jenny Oliver & Ndubulsi Ofoegbu, Dance
Lilit Hartunian, Violin
Samuel Graber-Hahn, Violin
Anna Griffis, Viola
Emmanuel Feldman, Cello
Edwin Munera, Guitar

Performed at Distler Performance Hall Granoff Music Center, Tufts University

Y Entonces… para Guitarra y Cuarteto de Cuerdas, en forma de Suite basada en tres tradiciones musicales Colombianas: Bambuco, Vallenato y Joropo.

Tiene cinco movimientos:

El primero es un Preludio para guitarra sola, creando una textura con la intención de describir la jornada la guitarra (aun en desarrollo como instrumento) desde España hasta impactar la evolución de la música Colombiana.

El segundo movimiento está inspirado en el Bambuco, tradición musical de la Region Andina Colombiana.

El tercer movimiento está basado en el Vallenato, tradición musical de la Costa Norte Colombiana. Esta tradición ejemplifica el mestizaje entre la cultura de los pueblos Indigenas, Africanos y Europeos.

El Cuarto movimiento está basado en el Joropo, tradición musical de los Llanos Orientales Colombianos.

El quinto y final movimiento, empieza usando armonicos en la guitarra y en el quarteto de cuerdas, seguido por un dueto de guitarra y viola central. La intension de este movimiento es de expresar un deseo de reconciliación.

Y Entonces…

For Guitar and String Quartet (2019) is a five-movement suite based on three Colombian musical traditions: Bambuco, Vallenato and Joropo.

The first movement, a prelude for guitar solo, creates a texture intended to describe the journey of the guitar, still in its formation as an instrument, from Spain, to impact the development of Colombian music.

The Second movement is inspired by the musical elements of an Andean traditional dance, the Bambuco.

The third movement is based on the Vallenato from the Caribbean coast. This tradition exemplifies the “mestizaje”, the mixture of Indigenous, African, and European cultures in that region.

The fourth movement is based on the Joropo from the east plains of Colombia.

The fifth movement is slow; the string quartet and guitar both utilize harmonics. This is followed by a guitar and viola duet aiming to express a desire of reconciliation.

Seven Palabras de Lumiere (2018), For Mezzo-Soprano and One Percussionist (marimba, tenor drum, bass drum and suspended cymbals)

Julia Cavallaro, Mezzo-Soprano

Jonathan Hess, Percussion

This is a Christmas-time reflection, meditating on seven concepts - to Love, to Trust, to Hope, to Believe (Faith), Joy, Peace and Good.

These concepts are expressed in three languages of Western culture (English, Spanish and French). These words are varied with meanings derived from each language. The music plays with the phonetic sounds, which sometimes are very similar and give evidence of their common roots.

Seven Palabras de Lumiere (2018), para Mezzo-Soprano y Un percusionista (marimba, tambor tenor, tambor bajo y platillos suspendidos)

Es una reflexion sobre siete conceptos o palabras alrededor del tema de navidad (amar, confiar, creer, esperar, paz, alegría y bien). Estos conceptos están expresados en tres lenguas de la cultura occidental (inglés, español y francés). Estas palabras varian su sentido al derivarse en cada lengua. La música interactua con los sonidos fonéticos, algunos de los cuales son similares y dan evidencia de sus raíces comunes.

Dense Liberty (2018) for Oboe, Viola and Bassoon

Music for the short film Bacchus #20 Elaine de Kooning, directed by Jennifer Burton and Rainie Toll
Liz England, Oboe
Anna Griffis, Viola
Jensen Ling, Bassoon

Creer (2018) for Piano

John McDonald, Piano

Rag Cat Nap Time (2018) for Guitar

Edwin Munera, Guitar

Zurdo (2017) for Prepared Piano

John McDonald, Piano

​Unity (2017) for Piano and Cello

John McDonald, Piano
Emmanuel Feldman, Cello