Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout III. Himno de Zampoñas
Gabriela Lena FrankPiece Duration: 02:51
About this Piece
(Movement II is 3:15-6:06)
Program Note: "Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout draws inspiration from the idea of mestizaje as envisioned by Peruvian writer José María Arguedas, where cultures can coexist without the subjugation of one by the other. As such, this piece mixes elements from the western classical and Andean folk music traditions.
'Himno de Zampoñas' features a particular type of panpipe ensemble that divides up melodies through a technique known as hocketing. The characteristic sound of the zampoña panpipe is that of a fundamental tone blown fatly so that overtones ring out on top, hence the unusual scoring of double stops in this movement." -Gabriela Lena Frank
Listen to a Zampoña Panpipe at this link!
Binary Form: The music alternates between two sections! The A Section features a hocketed melody, and the B section features dynamic waves of repeated tones!
A - 3:15
B - 3:40
A - 4:25
B - 4:52
A - 5:24
B - 5:43
"Leyendas" Movements Featured:
II. Tarqueda
III. Himno de Zampoñas
IV. Chasqui
V. Canto de Velorio
Notable Passages
Description:
Quartet: A smaller quartet of string players opens the movement, before the full string orchestra joins them! The four instruments are recreating the sound of a Zampoña Panpipe!
- Listen to the Zampoña Panpipe at this link
- Listen to the Notable Passage
- Compare and constrast the two pieces of music
Monophony/Range: The melody [Db Gb Eb Ab Bb] is played in two octaves. (Db3, and Db4 using pizzicato)
Extended Technique: Harmonics are created by lightly tapping the string, and usually sound "thinner" than regular notes. Can you hear these higher, "thinner" harmonics?
The composer uses harmonics to transpose the melody two octaves and a fifth higher! [Eb6 Ab F Bb C] This gives the music its unique Zampoña Panpipe sound!
Keywords: Extended Technique - Composition Technique , Melody - Misc. , Pizzicato , Quartet , Range - Composition Technique , Range - Melody , Range - Texture
Description:
Extended Techniques: Hocketing is a technique where multiple musicians put their individual notes together to create a larger melody. Try it as a group!
- Count off how many folks are in the room
- "Say this sentence, passing it across the room, with each person only speaking one word!"
In this Notable Passage, the first violinist plays the entire melody with pizzicato. However, the other musicians only hocket one or two notes of the melody at a time. Can you hear it?
Keywords: Extended Technique - Composition Technique , Melody - Misc.
Description:
Dynamics: In the B Section, the string orchestra crescendoes and decrescendos to create waves of sound!
Pizzicato vs. Battuto: The ensemble alternates between pizzicato and battuto! Battuto is played by hitting the bow hair against the strings to create short notes that have a bit of "thud" to them!
- Divide the room in half, assigning each size either Pizzicato or Battuto
- Listen closely to the Notable Passage, with each side raising their hand up when their articulation is being used!
Keywords: Articulation - Misc. , Binary Form , Dynamics - Composition Technique , Pizzicato , String Instruments , String Orchestra