The Song of Creation
The Song of Creation (2020/24) is a new concerto for soprano saxophone and wind ensemble composed by Juan Sebastián Cardona Ospina and dedicated to Michael Hernandez. The work was commissioned by the Latinx Storytellers Project and is based on the artwork of Mexican-American artist, Tino Rodriguez.
The Song of Creation (pictured above) is a painting by San Francisco based artist, Tino Rodriguez and serves as the main inspiration for the concerto.
“Rodriquez is a prolific artist, straddling the realms of post-war and contemporary art. His creative output draws from the rich tapestry of his Mexican heritage and his formative years steeped in the traditions of the Catholic Church…[his] artistic vision can be described as a complex mosaic woven from various threads including the enigmatic allure of shamanic rituals, the enchanting narratives of Mayan and Aztec folklore and the intricate world of arts and crafts…
Rodriguez’s art boldly appropriates iconography traditionally associated with femininity, repurposing it to stake a claim for himself and as a collective declaration for others who resonate with this vision…Rodriguez’s art becomes a bridge between cultures, a challenge to societal conventions, and an assertion of fluidity of identity, all within the intricate realm of his creative expressions.”
The Concerto
Inspired by one of Michael’s favorite visual artists, Juan Sebastián Cardona Ospina chose three of Rodriguez’s paintings to serve as the inspiration for his newest concerto for Michael and Wind Ensemble.
The first movement (based onThe Song of Creation)opens with a mystical incantation reminiscent of a Gregorian Chant that appears as a cannon within the clarinet section. Juan then makes use of a 16th note motive in the upper woodwinds (flutes, oboes) that represents the cascade of butterflies emerging from the broken egg. Butterflies, also known as Mariposas in Spanish, have often been used as a euphemism for homosexual males in Mexican culture.
Finally the soprano saxophone enters as the Goddess that is the central figure in the painting and the solo line begins to interact with the other members as she weaves in and out of the ensemble much like the serpent that the Goddess is riding.
Pagan’s Kiss serves as the inspiration of the slow second movement. Juan mirrors the dark palette of Rodriguez’s painting by creating a somber and austere color within the ensemble through the use of the low reeds and brass. Slowly Ospina builds layers of textures with woodwinds and higher yet dissonant brass that represent the bright colors of the flowers but also their thorns.
Central to this piece is the kiss shared between the two male figures in the painting, Juan casts the first alto saxophonist and Michael in a romantic duet accompanied by the vibraphones that represents this love story. The lover’s melody is based on the material of one of Juan’s favorite songs by Cuban singing sensation Gloria Estefan.
Las hijas de la Luna (the daughters of the moon) is currently a work in process. Check back for more details.
Conductors!
We are happy to share sample scores of the first two movements and what is completed of the 3rd movement as well as midi tracks for both!
If you are interested in programming this work with your wind ensemble during the 2024/25 season please reach out for these materials
For works with Orchestra click here