Fuga y Misterio
Astor PiazzolaPiece Duration: 5:10
About this Piece
Program Note: "In 1968 Piazzolla composed the operita (little opera) Maria de Buenos Aires in which he combines classical contrapuntal techniques learned from Nadia Boulanger with the vertically harmonic 'milongas' and mid-century jazz.
Fuga y Misterio is an instrumental piece from the opera. The first part (Fuga) begins with an agitated solo that jitters around the scale, and then is echoed in turn by the other instruments. Most instruments are playing tango-based music, but the percussive theme is based on jazz rhythms.
The Misterio part is based on a slow, lyrical melody related to Maria's main theme; this music gradually vaporizes." - Baton Music
Form (See Notable Passages below)
Fuga:
-First Entrance: 0:09
-Second Entrance: 0:33
-Third Entrance: 0:55
-Fourth Entrance: 1:19
-Transitional Material: 1:40
-Fifth Entrance: 2:14
Misterio: 2:41
-Transitional Material: 4:15
-Sixth Entrance: 4:31
-Coda: 4:54
Notable Passages
Description:
The fugue begins! Three cellists play the fugal subject in E Minor to open the piece.
An extended technique is played here, called percussive bow scratch!
Keywords: Cello Ensemble , Extended Technique - Composition Technique , Extended Technique - Expressive Elements , Fugue
Description:
The subject is heard a second time in A Minor, as the other cellists continue on. This is known as a fugal answer.
Keywords: Fugue
Description:
The subject enters a fourth time, in G Minor. At this point, all 12 cellists are playing together!
Keywords: Fugue
Description:
A fiery transitional section is played here, full of pulsing accents and sneaky crescendos!
Keywords: Cello Ensemble
Description:
The fugal subject is heard a fifth, in the home key of E Minor!
Keywords: Fugue
Description:
The Misterio section begins with a cello solo, accompanied by a ghostly extended technique called harmonics.
Keywords: Extended Technique - Composition Technique , Extended Technique - Expressive Elements
Description:
The Misterio solos end, launching into another fiery transition! Then, the sixth and final fugal entrance is heard in the home key of E Minor, followed by a short coda!
Keywords: Cello Ensemble , Fugue