for orchestra (2.2.2.2 | 3.2.1.0 | 2 percs | cel. | str.)
9’30

1st prize “La gnove musiche” International music competition by Filarmonici Friulani

Ellipse of a Cry was written for Italian orchestra Filarmonici Friulani in the context of its competition titled La gnove musiche, under the theme of “European folk music”. The piece is inspired by Spanish gypsy music, particularly the cante jondo called Siguiriya, as well as by Frederico García Lorca’s poem El grito (“The Cry”), from his book Poema del cante jondo. It seeks to evoke the poem’s spirit of lament, vastness and silence, as well as the cante jondo’s spirit of power and strength through suffering. Musical elements inspired from the cante jondo include the use of the (extended) phrygian scale, quarter-tones, repetitions of motifs or notes for emphasis, descending melodic lines, as well as an overall feeling of rhythmic looseness (similar to the Siguiriya).