Mis Once Letras

Program Note

Program note

“Mis once Letras” is the result of a commission by tenor Mauricio Iglesias, who sent me a series of poems by Roque Dalton. The project was to set the music and then present the works to High School students in El Salvador and motivate them to learn more about Salvadoran poetry. From the various poems Mauricio sent, I selected “Mi amor por ti es mucho mas que amor” (My love for you is more than love) (I – More than love), “Alta hora de la noche” (Highest hour of the night) (II – Do not pronounce my

name) and “Mi niña, mi Mujer” (My girl, my Woman).

The name of the work: “Mis once Letras” (My eleven letters) refers to a fragment of one of the poems used in the cycle and to the fact that the name Roque Dalton has “eleven letters.” As a curiosity, the name of Jorge Guzman (to whom the second piece is dedicated to) has also eleven letters. The work is scored for Tenor and Piano. Both parts had a grade of virtuosity. The tenor part requires special attention in the lower level of the range. For this work, the Tenor should sing from C3 to Ab5.

1. Mucho más que amor (Much more than love)

The work is in 4/3 time in homage to a Waltz, a genre that has been delighted by many, as much as my grandparent did (he was also a composer). The waltz is then modified with different metrics to give it a different shape. The work is a homage to love. Love that grows and changes little by little becoming more intense. Harmony and metric provide support for the text and to the idea of growing love. The work is

dedicated to Dr. Mario and Ana Henriquez, founders of the Salvadoran Renal Foundation, Inc and the Fundación Renal de El Salvador in El Salvador.

1. No pronuncies mi nombre (Do not pronounce my name)

From the three songs in the cycle this is the somber one. The introduction is a personal homage to a composition technique called “Tintinnabuli” developed by one of my favorite contemporary composers: Arvo Pärt. Is in this song where the tenor has to show his skills in the lower register and dramatically present the music. Death and love are two intense feelings. My advice to performers may be precisely to try to communicate with intensity the feelings that the text evoques. For the pianist: There are some “eleven notes” chords that refers to the title of the work. The work is posthumously dedicated to painter Jorge Guzman, founder of Ikarus Gallery Cultural Program, Inc in New York, with whom I shared projects and art.

III. Mi niña, mi mujer (My girl, my woman)

This work was inspired by the impressionism. A mix of delicacy and passion. A declaration of love. An Ideal and juvenile love that make some to be flying over the clouds. Pianists could expect a challenge working on this piece. My idea was that both soloist and pianist could show their talents. Love, as in this piece should be constructed gradually, and has moments of tremendous passion and tenderness. The climax: “Te digo que te amo como jamás amé” should include a high dose of emotion and expression. The work is dedicated to my friend Mauricio Iglesias.

My special recognition to Mauricio for commissioning this work, to Juan José and Jorge Dalton for permitting me to use the words of their father Roque Dalton, to my wife Alejandra and my family for always supporting me and finally, to my teacher, Dr. Ivette Herryman for her invaluable support towards my education and career.

• Juan Guerra González