Madrigali
by Josué Moreno
Weather Madrigals
for reading room and continuo —Harpsichord, archlute, obbligato, and electronics
Description
Madrigali is articulated under the principles of "aural weather," a concept I coined in my doctoral research at the Sibelius Academy. "Aural weather" refers to exploring alternative ways of using musical time and organizing sonic material to create immersive atmospheric environments. The composition is conceived for the Finnish National Archived Old Reading Room in Helsinki.
The work consists of six madrigals and two interludes. Each madrigal presents a different spatial situation with the performers distributed throughout the performance space. During the interludes, the audience and performers can move freely around the space as an electroacoustic "echo" of the preceding madrigals. These electronic sounds are emitted from different heights through the existing architectural surfaces using contact loudspeakers attached to tables, floors, stairs, and bookshelves, transforming the historical elements into resonating audio sources.
To further blend with the venue's acoustics, the ensemble utilises 1/4-comma meantone and just intonation tuning system referenced to G1 at 50 Hz, the electricity frequency in Europe. Each madrigal employs specific notational strategies, including "basso continuo” notation to affect the harmonic identity and performance flexibility.
For several reasons, including health issues and the COVID-19 pandemic, Madrigali was six years in the making. This deeply personal composition is dedicated to my father and cherished friends who passed away during its creation. Fittingly, the contents of the books surrounding the performance space reflect themes of loss and mortality as they consist mainly of wills.
Instrumentation cemb, lute, obbligato, electr
Instrument codes
| Abbreviation | Instrument |
|---|
| Woodwind | |
|---|
| acl | alto clarinet |
| afl | alto flute |
| arec | alto recorder |
| asax | alto saxophone |
| barsax | baritone saxophone |
| barhn | baritone horn |
| bcl | bass clarinet |
| bfl | bass flute |
| bob | bass oboe |
| bsax | bass saxophone |
| bsn | bassoon |
| cbsn | contrabassoon |
| cl | clarinet |
| ehn | English horn |
| fl | flute |
| hn | French horn |
| ob | oboe |
| pic | piccolo |
| rec | recorder |
| sax | saxophone |
| srec | soprano recorder |
| ssax | soprano saxophone |
| trec | tenor recorder |
| tsax | tenor saxophone |
| Brass | |
|---|
| ahn | alto horn |
| atrb | altotrombone |
| barhn | baritone horn |
| btrb | bass trombone |
| cornet | cornet |
| euph | euphonium |
| fhn | flugelhorn |
| hn | French horn |
| tba | tuuba |
| thn | tenor horn |
| trb | trombone |
| trp | trumpet |
| Percussion | |
|---|
| dr | drums |
| glock | glockenspiel |
| mar | marimba |
| perc | percussion |
| timp | timpani |
| vibr | vibraphone |
| xyl | xylophone |
| Strings | |
|---|
| db | double bass |
| gamba | viola da gamba |
| str | strings |
| vla | viola |
| vlc | cello |
| vln | violin |
| Other | |
|---|
| acc | accordion |
| cel | celesta |
| cemb | harpsichord |
| chords | chords |
| elbas | electric bass |
| elg | electric guitar |
| elorg | electric organ |
| elpno | electric piano |
| guit | guitar |
| harm | harmonium |
| hca | harmonica |
| hp | harp |
| instr | instrument |
| kantele | kantele |
| keyb | keyboard |
| live electr | live electronics |
| mand | mandolin |
| mel | melody |
| org | organ |
| pno | piano |
| synth | synthesizer |
| tape | tape |
| Vocal | |
|---|
| alto | alto |
| baryt | baritone |
| basso | bass voice |
| ch | choir |
| chc | childrens choir |
| chf | female choir |
| chm | male choir |
| chx | mixed choir |
| cten | countertenor |
| mezzo | mezzo-soprano |
| sopr | soprano |
| speaker | speaker |
| ten | tenor |
| voc | vocal |
Coding for instrument ensembles and orchestras
| Symphony orchestra | |
|---|
| 2222 4331 11 1, str = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 French horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, one other percussionist, harp and strings |
| Wind band | |
|---|
| 2252 3 423 21212 3 = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 5 clarinets, 2 bassoons - 3 saxophones - 4 French horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones - 2 cornets, alto horn, 2 tenor horns, baritone horn, 2 tubas - 3 percussionists |
| Big band | |
|---|
| 221 4 4, pno, guit, db, dr = 2 alto saxophones, 2 tenor saxophones, baritone saxophone, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, piano, guitar, double bass, drums |
| Additional codes | |
|---|
| + | fl+pic = flutist doubles on piccolo |
| / | pno/org = can be played on either piano or organ |
| lib | ad libitum |
| obl | obligato |
| str | str: 65432 = specified number of string players |
| str min | str min: 65432 = at least 65432 |
| str max | str max: 65432 = not more than 65432 |
| solo | vln solo = violin is the solo instrument in a work not obviously for solo violin |
Category Chamber Works
Movements 1. Hands well, kiss cloud; 2. Lost inside, moved little; Interlude: Illud tempus fictio 1; 3. Fears ago; 4. Will find blind; Interlude: Illud tempus fictio 2; 5. Joy be; 6. Things crying help Sun
Commisioned by / dedications Commissioned by Marianna Henriksson and supported by Sibelius Foundation. Designed for the Finnish National Archives Old Reading Room.
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Archive number MF35649
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