Son perpetuum

Abstract

From Mexico all the way to Argentina, many Latin American countries share a very strong tradition of music in 6/8 meter that emerged from the blend of music traditions from Spain, the native cultures, and the African descendants. In this musical tradition there is a constant rhythmic device, not unique to this kind of music, but certainly one of its main characteristics: the hemiola.

For the last five years I have been working at the Latin American Music Center (Indiana University), and “Son Perpetuum” is an abstraction of multiple styles that have influenced my compositional work during my doctorate. Rhythms such as Son Husteco, Landó, and Zamacueca, among others, are blended into an energetic rush of color, texture, and harmony in perpetual motion.

“Son Perpetuum” does not have breaks; it does not slow down; it is always energetic. The interest of the piece depends on a wide variety of timbral, textural, harmonic, dynamic, and registral ranges.