NOTE: Please acknowledge the authorship of these program notes by Jose Elizondo, the composer, if you use them for publicity material, concert program notes, or any other publication.

 

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·                  Despapaye

 

·        Commission: Commissioned by and dedicated to conductor and flutist Orlando Cela

·        Duration: 4 minutes

·        Mood: light, joyful, with a bit of humor

·        Description: This piece is intended for Pops, light concerts or as a fun encore. It starts as a standard Baroque dance that eventually transforms into a fun and rhythmic salsa.

·        Premiere: Lowell Chamber Orchestra, Orlando Cela flute soloist and conductor. December 2019 (recording), January 2021 (album release).

 

Program Notes by José Elizondo:

 

Despapaye is a very playful and colorful word used in Mexican Spanish to refer to something that is a bit messy but in a fun and endearing sort of way. This composition is intended to be lighthearted and fun. With this piece, the composer wanted to celebrate the virtuosic performances and the wonderful sense of humor of maestro Orlando Cela, to whom this piece is dedicated. The composer took elements from one of his earlier work, his Baroque Dance #2, and transformed it into a new composition that begins as what seems to be a simple and straight-forward Baroque piece for flute, string orchestra, and piano. However, after the first theme is presented, the piece introduces some slightly less standardly-Baroque elements (seemingly out-of-place glissandos, pizzicatos, etc) that announce the introduction of Latin elements into the mix. Gradually, this piece transforms itself into a playful and joyful blend of Baroque music with Latin American salsa music.