Echoes No. 2 (…about the flow of compensations)

Echoes No. 2 (…about the flow of compensations) is the second of a series of exclusive pieces for voice and ensemble, among which the first was written for actress, soprano and four percussionists; this one, the second, for soprano, flute, Bb clarinet, tenor saxophone, percussion, acoustic guitar and piano; and the third (still unfinished) for soprano, flute, Bb clarinet, percussion, mandolin, acoustic guitar and cello. The concept that involves these works and articulates the series takes the singer, or the actress (in the case of Echoes No. 1), as the protagonist of the compositive plot, in which the other instrumentalists represent her consciousness and subconsciousness, and metaphorically echo her psychological conditions.

Ecos Nº 2 was motivated by two texts (used in their entirety) by different authors, of period, styles and with different themes: Simulacro, by Vitor Rios¹ (1989), and A Perfeição, by Clarice Lispector² (1920 - 1977). These texts were chosen with the purpose of forming a particular meaning together, reflecting a thematic chosen by me as the composer. In this direction, this work proposes a reflection about the principle of causality, discussed in scientific, philosophical and religious spheres. The subtitle of the piece, about the flow of compensations, responds precisely to this notion of cause and effect, melancholically accepted and even contemplated by the music’s poetic persona.

In the musical aspect, the piece reverberates (and perpasses by) different aesthetics and compositional techniques. Throughout the compositional flow that responds to the processes of formal implementation, as a set of relationships that make the work reach its fullness, it is possible to find serial structures, tonal implications and relations of centricities, modular textures and dialogues with the musicality of the Bahia culture.

The première was played by Abstrai Ensemble, the group which the piece was dedicated for, on August 25, 2015, at the the University of Bahia’ rectory, in an event held by the MAB project - Música de Agora na Bahia. The musicians involved were Doriana Mendes (soprano), Pauxy Gentil Nunes (flute), Batista Jr. (Bb clarinet), Pedro Bittencourt (tenor saxophone), Daniel Serale (percussion), Fabio Adour (acoustic guitar) and Marina Spoladore (piano).