Invocation and Dance
Rafael Hernandez
About this work:
INVOCATION AND DANCE is inspired by the different Latin-American musics that I heard while growing up. When I was younger, I was constantly surrounded by relatives and friends of the family who were from different parts of Latin-America (my own family being Puerto Rican). Music and dance was always prominent at activities and celebrations in my home and this piece seeks to portray the conjuring and dancing out of the energy always present in the charged atmosphere of these festivities.
While many works by different composers bear this title, only Joaquin Rodrigo’s masterwork for solo guitar was foremost in the my mind whilst writing this piece. Like Rodrigo, I set out to invoke soul and spirit from a single instrument. Rodrigo’s choice was the classical guitar, mine is the cello. Both seem fitting for they possess dark, sensuous timbres that are known for their expressive capabilities. In DANCE, references to different types of dances and well known pieces that use dance are made. Some of the dances referenced include the Baroque gigue (in terms of contrapuntal technique), a Bartókian “Bulgarian rhythm”-type dance, a parody on a well known dance piece from a musical involving Puerto Ricans (I will let you guess this one), and the “Danse Sacrale” movement from Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. This is all done in a light hearted way so as to reflect my own attitude on music, dance, and dancing.
November 23, 1999
Bates Recital Hall
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas New Music Ensemble, Dan Welcher, director
Year composed: 2004
Duration: 00:12:30
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Unknown
Instrumentation: 1 Flute, 1 Clarinet, 1 Percussion (General), 1 Piano, 1 Violin, 1 Cello