Josep Maria Guix
Songs for Júlia
Short instrumentation: 3 3 3 3 - 4 3 3 1, timp, perc(3), hp, pno, str
Duration: 11'
Solos:
soprano
Instrumentation details:
1st flute (+picc)
2nd flute
3rd flute
1st oboe
2nd oboe
3rd oboe
1st clarinet in Bb
2nd clarinet in Bb
3rd clarinet in Bb (+bass cl(Bb))
1st bassoon
2nd bassoon
3rd bassoon
1st horn in F
2nd horn in F
3rd horn in F
4th horn in F
1st trumpet in C
2nd trumpet in C
3rd trumpet in C
1st trombone
2nd trombone
3rd trombone
tuba
timpani
1st percussion
2nd percussion
3rd percussion
harp
piano
violin I
violin II
viola
violoncello
double bass
Songs for Júlia
Printed/Digital
Translation, reprints and more
Josep Maria Guix
Songs for Júlia
Available digitally
Orchestration: for soprano and orchestra
Type: Dirigierpartitur
Sample pages
Audio preview
Video
Work introduction
This composition began to take shape eight years ago, following the reading of an anthology of ancient Chinese poems. Some of them, quite suggestive, awakened in me the desire to set them in music, especially because of the way nature generated intense emotion when contemplated and, at the same time, prolonged a state of mind.
All of this coincided, at the same time, with the commitment my elder daughter made: to study singing professionally. I decided then that, if the opportunity arose, I would venture to compose a cycle for female voice and orchestra, to offer it as a gift.
The three short songs that make up the work immerse themselves in a tranquil lyricism, full of delicate colors, sonorous and emotional resonances, in which timbral and harmonic ambiguities are always welcome.
The work has been commissioned by the Orquestra simfònica de Barcelona i nacional de Catalunya on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of L’Auditori.
It has been premiered by soprano Anna Devin with OBC conducted by Ludovic Morlot on March 2024 in Barcelona.
LYRICS
I. A bloom is not a bloom, by Bai Juyi (772-846)
A bloom is not a bloom,
Mist is not mist.
Coming at midnight,
Leaving again at dawn.
Coming like a spring dream -for how long?
Leaving like a morning cloud -with no trace.
Hu? f?i hu? / Wù f?i wù / Yè bàn lái / Ti?n míng qù / Lái rú ch?n mèng j? du? shí / Qù sì zh?o yún wú mì chù
II. Night snow, by Bai Juyi
Surprised to find my quilt and pillow so cold.
I turn my head to the window: light! -glimmering, shimmering.
Deep in the night, the snow silently covers the land,
sometimes, I hear a sharp sound: the bamboo cracks.
Yè Xue / Yi yà qin zhen leng / Fù jiàn chu?ng hu míng / Yè sh?n zhi xue zhòng / Shí wén zhé zhú sh?ng
III. Autumn air, by Li Bai (701-762)
Air, in Autumn, is clear,
Moon, in Autumn, is bright.
Fallen leaves gather and scatter,
The jackdaw perches and suddenly flies
We think of each other- when shall we meet?
At this time, tonight, my passion takes me.
Qi? f?ng qing / Qi? yuè míng / Luò yè yù hái sàn / Hán y? qi fù jing / Xi?ng si xi?ng jiàn zhi hé rì / C? shí c? yè nán wéi qíng
English version by the composer, based on Chinese poems by Li Bai and Bai Juyi.
What is necessary to perform this work?
INSTRUMENTATION
3 Fl. (also Pic.), 3 Ob., 3 Bb Cl. (also Bass Cl.), 3 Bsn.
4 F. Hn., 3 Tpt., 3 Tbn., 1 Tuba
1 Timp.
3 Perc.
1 Hp.,
1 Pno.,
Vln. I, Vl. II, Vla., Vlc., Cb.
PERCUSSION (Using International pitch notation, A4=440 Hz)
Timpani
1 Ocean Drum (Big)
3 Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls or Japanese Singing Bowls. Pitches: B4, C5 & A5 (or F#5) 1 Glockenspiel
1 Marimba (with bow)
1 Vibraphone (with bow)
1 Cymbal China (big)
1 Suspended Cymbal, (shared Perc. 1 & 3)
5 Wine Glasses. Pitches: Eb5, E5, F#5, Bb5 & C6 (or Bb4 & C5)
1 Bass Drum, (shared Perc. 1 & 3)
7 Cow Bells. Pitches: Bb3, C4, D4, E4, G4, A4 & C5
1 Rainstick (big)
1 Tam Tam (100 or 110 cm), (shared Perc. 1, 2 & 3)
2 Triangle (Medium & Big)
1 Claves
6 Gongs. Pitches: C#2, D2, C3, E3, C4 & D4
2 Bamboo Wind Chimes (Medium & Low)
1 Metal Wind Chimes (High)
1 Steel Tongue Drum (or Hang). Pitches: G3, A3, D4, E4, G4 & A4
1 Spring Drum (Medium or Big)
1 Woodblock
5 Crotales. Pitches: F6, Ab6, B6, C7 & Eb7
1 Megabass Waterphone (or Bass Waterphone)
1 Plate Bell (pitch: D3)
PERCUSSION DISTRIBUTION (Using International pitch notation, A4=440 Hz)
Timpani (also Ocean Drum in A bloom is not a bloom)
Percussion 1:
Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls (pitches: B4 & A5) Vibraphone (with bow)
Wine Glasses (pitches: Eb5, E5 & F#5)
Cymbal China (big)
Bass Drum, (shared with Perc. 3)
Cow Bells (pitches: Bb3, C4, D4, E4, G4, A4 & C5) (with bow) Rainstick (big)
Tam Tam (100 or 110 cm), (shared with Perc. 2 & 3)
Triangle (medium)
Suspended Cymbal, (shared with Perc. 3)
Claves
Percussion 2:
Gongs (pitches: C#2, D2, C3, E3, C4 & D4), (shared with Perc. 3)
Marimba (with bow)
Steel Tongue Drum (or Hang) ( pitches G3, A3, D4, E4, G4 & A4)
Wine Glasses (pitches: Bb5, C6)
Glockenspiel
Tam Tam (100 or 110 cm), (shared with Perc. 1 & 3)
Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls (pitch: C5 )
Crotales (pitches: F6, B6)
Bamboo Wind Chimes (Low), (shared with Perc. 3)
Plate Bell (pitch: D3)
Percussion 3:
Megabass Waterphone (or Bass Waterphone)
Tam Tam (100 or 110 cm), (with superball & brush), (shared with Perc. 1 & 2)
Triangle (big)
Spring Drum (Medium or Big)
Suspended Cymbal, (shared with Perc. 1)
Gongs (pitches: C#2, D2, C3, E3, C4 & D4), (shared with Perc. 2)
Crotales (pitches: Ab6, C7, Eb7)
Bass Drum, (shared with Perc. 1)
Bamboo Wind Chimes (Low)
Metal Wind Chimes (High)
Woodblock
Score written in C
Complete duration: 11’
I. A bloom is not a bloom (4’10’’) / II. Night snow (2’38’’) / III. Autumn air (3’26’’)