Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout V: Canto de Velorio

The movement begins with high double stops (major seconds), and low pizzicato gestures in the cello. Listen for the contrast between these two parts, and the dynamics as the high strings crescendo and decrescendo!

The violins quietly quote sections of the chant "Dies Irae", at the top of their range! The violas and cellos mimic two mournful llorona (crying women), below this chant.

Bitonality: The high chant is in C Minor, and the low strings are in E Minor!

The music transitions here from quiet and mournful, to growing despair!

The violins mimic the coro de mujeres, with crying glissandos up and down their range. The music slowly gains intensity!

The violins play dissonant double stops (major seconds or minor seconds), as the lower strings play one long glissando upwards, using tremolo.

Gabriela-Lena Frank uses crescendos to help dial up the tension, leading to the climax of this movement! This section is full of unease and anticipation as the mourning musicians continue to despair. Imagine something twisting tighter and tighter, until it almost snaps. 

The string orchestra create wildly dissonant groups of notes, called a tone clusters! The first tone cluster uses notes E, F, A#, and B.

This cluster moves in parallel motion, with its intervals (minor second, perfect fourth, minor second) remaining constant. Envision a flock of birds, flying together in the same direction at the same time!

The first violin quotes the chant "Dies Irae" once more, this time using ghostly harmonics. 

The rest of the ensemble creates a calm and suspended musical texture, to end the movement.