Juan Arroyo
DALL'INFINITO
Short instrumentation: 2 2 2 2 - 2 2 2 1, timp, perc(4), pno, str
Duration: 20'
Instrumentation details:
1st flute (+picc)
1st flute (+alto fl)
1st oboe
1st oboe
1st clarinet in Bb
1st clarinet in Bb (+bass cl(Bb))
1st bassoon
1st bassoon (+cbsn)
1st horn in F
1st horn in F
1st trumpet in C
1st trumpet in C
1st bass trombone
1st bass trombone
tuba
timpani
1st percussion
1st percussion
1st percussion
1st percussion
piano
violin I
violin II
viola
violoncello
double bass
DALL'INFINITO
Sample pages
Video
Work introduction
Inspired by a compilation of articles that appeared under the title A Paso de Cangrejo, by the versatile intellectual and Italian novelist Umberto Eco, I imagined an entire sonorous and paradoxical world. Written before, during and after my stay at the Villa Médicis in Rome, each title evokes certain passages of Eco's work and at the same time each movement attempts to reveal an enigmatic temporal space. De lo Infinito takes its origin from the philosophical reflections that Umberto Eco makes on the state of the world at the beginning of this new millennium. The direction that humanity is taking paradoxically appears to be a retreating movement that we commonly call “the crab step.” The old territorial conflicts, the wars with the air of a "crusade", the expansion and acceptance of totalitarianism, racism and homophobia in multiple forms, confirm Eco's thesis some years after the first edition of his book. With this work I pay tribute to the writer and his work, three years after his death and I invite the listener to reflect on our role in the history of humanity.
What is necessary to perform this work?
- 2 Flutes (1st also piccolo, 2nd also flute in G)
- 2 Oboes
- 2 Clarinets in Bb (2nd also Bass clarinet in Bb) - 2 Fagots (2nd also contrafagot)
- 2 Horns in F
- 2 Trumpets in C
- 2 Trombone bass
- Tuba
- Timpani (la, do#, sol)
- Percussion (4 players)
I : 2 bongos, 2 congas, 4 toms (shared with the Percussion II) metal chimes, wooden ratchet, medium chinese cymbal.
II : marimba 5 octaves, 4 toms (shared with the Percussion I;
1 low, 2 mediums, 1 high)
III : tam-tam, wind-gong, gongs (do#3), Low Chinese cymbal,
2 suspended cymbals (mediums), crotales (sol4, si6)
IV : bass drum, triangle.
- Piano
- Violin I (min. 8 players)
- Violin II (min. 8 players)
- Viola (min. 6 players)
- Violoncello (min. 5 players)
- Double Bass (min. 3 players, 3rd with 5 strings)