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Description: This composition has
a certain atmospheric, cinematic character. It is a fantasy for orchestra
that makes reference to an Aztec legend of the Quetzal bird and the snake.
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Premiere: Pan American
Symphony Orchestra, maestro Sergio Buslje, music director. June 1st, 2002 at
the Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC.
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Program Notes by José Elizondo:
Stories of winged snakes and the Quetzal bird are a
recurrent motive in several ancient cultures in Latin America. For the Maya,
this refers back to the mythological figure of Kukulkan, while the Aztecs had
the story of Quetzalcoatl, perhaps the best known of these myths. In fact,
the name of Quetzalcoatl himself means “feathered serpent” or “serpent of
precious feathers” in the Nahuatl language. And he was usually artistically
depicted as a combination of a green quetzal bird and a serpent. The figure of
Quetzalcoatl was associated with creation, arts, knowledge and learning.
Elizondo was always fascinated by the spectacular
pyramids and archeological sites of the pre-Hispanic cultures of his homeland
Mexico. This was particularly the case with Teotihuacan and Chichen Itza, and
the extraordinary architecture and artistic representations found in these
sites. For example, on every equinox, the architecture of the main pyramid in
Chichen Itza casts a shadow that looks like the image of a snake descending
the pyramid’s staircase. And the acoustics of the pyramid are such that if you
stand at a specific point and clap, you hear the distinct chirping sound of
the Quetzal bird.
“La Leyenda del Quetzal y
la Serpiente” is not a programmatic piece. It’s
simply a fantasy for orchestra that attempts to create an atmosphere of
mystery and wonder, which evokes the feelings of the composer upon visiting
the archeological sites in his homeland. This piece was commissioned by
maestro Sergio Buslje, music director of the Pan American Symphony Orchestra.
And the world premiere of this piece took place on June 1st, 2002 at the
Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC.
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