[#272] October 07, 2024
2023 | Wind Band | Grade 5 | 15’- 20’ | Ballet Suite
Arrels, by Spanish composer and conductor Ximo Tarín Micó is our Composition of the Week.
Arrels, (Roots, in English) was originally written as a Valencian folkloric ballet in three tableaux, scored for narrator, solo voices, dulzaina, plectrum orchestra and symphonic band. This version was premiered on September 28, 2023, at the Saint Michael’s Concert in Lliria, Valencia, Spain, by the Unió Musical de Llíria and the ballet troupe “El Tossal”, with Vicent Balaguer conducting.
Arrels is based on symphonic arrangements of traditional Valencian music, worked with a style of 20th century neoclassicism, with references to composers such as Vivaldi, Stravinsky or Blanquer, as well as on preludes and interludes for band, using poems by Vicent Andrés Estellés as nexus between the movements.
The whole ballet has a duration of 70 minutes.
On the same year, Ximo Tarín completed a suite from the ballet of 19 minutes, structured in 6 movements.
I. Obertura (La fira)
II. Entrada dels xiquets
III. Dansa dels orígens
IV. Escena de l'horta
V. Interludi
VI. Moixiganga
The suite is scored for Piccolo, Flute 1-2, Oboe 1-2, English Horn, Eb Clarinet, 2 Solo Clarinets, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon 1-2, Clarinets 1-3, Alto Sax 1-2, Tenor Sax 1-2, Baritone Sax, Horn 1-4, Trumpet 1-4, Flugelhorn 1-2, Trombone 1-2, Bass Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, Cellos (4. optional), Doublebass (2), Harp (optional), Percussion I-VI.
The ballet suite Arrels, was premiered on April 21, 2024, by the Banda Simfònica La Primitiva de Rafelbunyol, in the Rafelbunyol Auditorium, Spain, with the composer conducting.
The music is available through the composer.
Ximo Tarín began his musical education with his father at the age of six. In 2006, already studying at the Conservatori Municipal Barcelona, he received the Honorary Award by unanimous vote.
In 2010 he finished his clarinet studies at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC) with Josep Fuster, and the following year he took the Continuing Education Course with Joan Enric Lluna. Since then, and until 2016, he collaborated regularly with the Banda Municipal de Barcelona as a clarinetist, and received training from clarinetists such as Ramón Barona, Enrique Artiga, José Miguel Martínez, Enrique Pérez, Antonio Saiote, Alain Damiens, Harry Sparnaay, Wolfgang Meyer, Anthony Pay, among others.
As a composer, he has been composer in residence with the “Jove Orquestra Simfònica Diaula”, receiving premiere performances of his works “Aforismes Simfònics”, “Concertino per a Orquestra” and “Danses Valencianes”.
He has received commissions from groups such as Barcelona Clarinet Players, Duet’tot sols, TetraBrass Bcn Ensemble, Quintet Frontela, 2AZ1 Duo, Casino Musical de Godella, Societat Musical l’Artística Manisense, among others.
In 2015 he won the 1st Composition Competition for Trombone Octet of Catalonia with the work “Vuit Soldats de Varsòvia”.
In 2021 he won the “Premis Castellitx of Algaida” with his piece “Música de la cort dels hòmens”, for wind band.
His works has been premiered in Paraguay, the USA, the Netherlands as well as in his home country, Spain.
Other works for winds by Ximo Tarín include:
Vuit soldats de Varsòvia, 8 trombones, 2015, 10’
La mort de Santa Cecilia, wind band, 2017, 13’
Symphony Nr.1 for 40 players, wind ensemble, 2019, 15’
Tres al-lusions a l’abisme, brass quartet and wind ensemble, 2020, 17’
Música de la cort dels hòmens, wind band, 2020, 6’
Concerto for Wind Orchestra, 2021, 27’
Valencian Dances, wind band, 2023, 9’
More on Ximo Tarín