Ester - from "Nostalgias del abuelo"

Nico Gutierrez
Piece Duration: 4:25

About this Piece

Program Note: "Ester" is the third song from Gutierrez's song cycle 'Nostalgias del abuelo' (English: 'Grandfather's Nostalgia').

Text: (Spanish)
Eres la maga de mis ilusiones 
La instigadora azul de mis anhelos 
La animación de todas mis canciones 
Y la visión astral de mis desvelos. 

Con tu grácil pureza de oraciones 
Y tu divinidad de ignotos cielos 
De mi dolor bajo los broncos sones 
Extiendes un enjambre de consuelos 

No te sorprenda pues cuanto te adoro 
Y se que pusiste tu polvillo de oro 
Sobre mi ensueño al entreabrir su broche 

Que al golpear en mi senda desolada 
Con tu varita mágica, ¡OH hada! 
Llenaste de crepúsculos mi noche 

Translation:
You are the magician of my fantasies 
The blue instigator of my longings 
The animation of all my songs 
And the astral vision of my anxiety 

With your graceful purity of prayers 
And your divination of unknown skies 
From my pain below the sound of horse hooves 
You extend a swarm of consolations 

Do not be surprised by how much I adore you 
And I know that you blew your golden powder 
Over my dream to open its brooch 

By hitting my desolate path 
With your magic wand, Oh Fairy! 
You filled my nights with sunsets.

Notable Passages

Time Stamp: 0:00 — 0:35
Description:

The second chord we hear in the opening section is an augmented chord (F, A, and C#). The augmented chord uses a raised fifth, and is used many times in this song! 

  • Play the notes of this chord at the piano [F, A, C#]
  • Listen for the chord in the full performance

(Opening Chord Progression: F, F augmented, D minor, F7 [repeat] Bbmaj7, C7, F)


Keywords: Chords

Time Stamp: 1:00 — 2:26
Description:

Listen to the soprano's melodic phrases in this section! Listen for where the phrases begin and end (Note: When the vocalist takes a breath the phrase might be over, but not always!)


Keywords: Phrase - Melody

Time Stamp: 2:39 — 3:34
Description:

The soprano reaches her high range, as she sings of the wonderful things that have been done for her. What an incredible section of the song!


Keywords: Range - Expressive Elements , Phrase - Expressive Elements

Time Stamp: 3:31
Description:

The song ends with a calm and expressive coda, full of subtle and unexpected harmonic and melodic choices!


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