Description
i. restless
ii. mischief
iii. nostalgia
iv. games
v. fiesta
Little Serenade for String Orchestra
i. Restless
ii. Mischief
iii. Nostalgia
iv. Games
v. Fiesta
Little Serenade is my homage to our memories of childhood: those ceaseless moments of restlessness, mischief, tears, playtime and festivities that once weaved the novel and naïve texture of life. This work consists of five short movements that retrospectively (perhaps even nostalgically) portray such moods and experiences. Despite their length, most movements are highly energetic expositions of melodic motifs that are developed within a rhythmically infused sonic milieu. As with much of my music, there are several instances of syncopated interlocking rhythms drawn from the syntax associated with Cuban dance music. The contrasting middle movement, “Nostalgia," is a bittersweet tribute to my earlier life; vague traces of those childhood joys and tears, however, are etched into the delicate fabric of adult life. As a tribute to years gone by, much of the musical ideas used in the third and fourth movements were conceived in my teenage years. I see this work as a commemoration of the vast tessitura of our experiences—memories that today we can opt to celebrate!
Daniel Rojas, 2024
Instrumentation
Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Double Bass