CONTRATIEMPOS Tres Piezas para Banda Sinfónica for Symphonic Band by DIANA MARCELA GONZÁLEZ BECERRA (Colombia, 1995)

[#309] June 16, 2025 2020 | Grade 4 | 10’ – 15’ | Suite

Premiered by Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Symphonic Band conducted by Patricia Vanegas Ruiz on Mar 23, 2023 in Bogota.

“Contratiempos”, Three pieces for Symphonic Band, by Colombian composer, singer, and accordion artist Diana Marcela González Becerra (known as Diana Burco) is our Composition of the Week.

“Contratiempos” was written in 2020 as part of the composer’s studies, and premiered on March 27, 2023, in Bogota, Colombia, by Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Symphonic Band with Patricia Vanegas Ruiz conducting.

“Contratiempos is a work written for symphonic band consisting of three contrasting pieces,

inspired by traditional music from the Colombian Caribbean.

With this work, I sought a syncretism that would bring together different compositional techniques learned during my academic training as a composer and popular music artist in Colombia.

As a diatonic accordion player, one of my greatest sources of has been the traditional music of my country. I am convinced that we have a cultural treasure that not only needs to be recovered but can also be expanded and renewed through the creation and the contribution of different formats and compositional techniques.

My search for musical syncretism stems from my personal recognition of the marked cultural fusion that has existed since the time of the Conquest, evidence of the ethnic plurality that makes Colombia a diverse country. In Colombia, three cultures mixed after the Conquest: Spanish, indigenous, and African. Syncretism is a process by which two traditions, in this case musical, coexist for a long period of time, gradually assimilating elements of each other and resulting in a new and unique cultural expression, formed from the mixture of both.

The objective of each piece that makes up the work is to create a convergence between memory and identity. I firmly believe that music is a feature of our cultures and our ways of living and feeling that allows us to represent who we are. The harmonic and orchestral languages of academic music developed during the 20th century and the rhythmic-melodic language of the Colombian Caribbean have been the musical basis for the work.

The term contratiempo in music is a rhythmic irregularity. However, when I hear the word contratiempo, the beat of the “llamador” immediately comes to mind, the small drum that is part of the drum family in the Colombian Caribbean; the one that beats once on the weak beat and shifts the natural accent of the measure. For me, this beat represents the beating of the heart. It also carries the accent that connects most of the rhythms from the Colombian Caribbean, the region that inspires the entire piece.

This work is a tribute to the music that identifies me as a daughter born in Colombia.”

Program Notes by Diana Marcela González Becerra

“Contratiempos” has a duration of around 12 minutes, and it is structured in three movements.

Mov. 1 – Verdes:

“This short introductory piece is inspired by the green color of my mother’s eyes. It focuses on two main ideas: the color green and the birth of something. It begins with a contemplative atmosphere and employs minimalist techniques alongside dodecaphonic harmony. The aim is to draw a soundscape that allows me to describe the nuances that this color can express regarding the origin and beginning of something.”

Mov. 2 – Mulatos.

“This piece reflects the ethnic multiplicity represented by a mulatto, the child of a white person and a Black person. To achieve this, I used contrasting musical aesthetics that synchronize into a balance, ultimately reaching a musical syncretism. Techniques from Renaissance counterpoint were used, including polyphonic chorales and canons, developed using the melodic-rhythmic gestures found in cumbia, porro, pasebol, and son de negro rhythms.”

Mov. 3 – Oéoé:

“Finally, Oéoé is a piece inspired by the evolution of contemporary music that incorporates minimalist aesthetics within counterpoint. These techniques are based on the melodic-rhythmic gestures of Chandé, a festive, joyful parade rhythm characterized by its dances and distinctive handclap accompaniment.”

The work is scored for a standard wind band setting, with the addition of traditional percussion:

Piccolo – Flute 1-2- Oboe 1-2 – Bassoon – Clarinet 1-4 – Bass Clarinet – Alto Saxophone 1-2 – Tenor Saxophone – Baritone Saxophone

French Horns 1-4 – Trumpets 1-3 – Trombone 1-3 – Euphonium – Tuba - String Bass 1-2

Timpani (4), cymbals, triangle, Cowbells (2), Woodblock, Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Bells.

Traditional percussion: Clave, Guacharaca, Maracones, Tambor Llamador, Tambor Alegre, Tambora.

Diana Burco is a Colombian artist known for her contributions to cumbia, vallenato, and contemporary fusion music. Born in 1995 in Bucaramanga, she began her musical career at the age of 12 by playing the violin, before developing a passion for the accordion, an iconic instrument of Colombian folklore. She was trained by vallenato player Rita Fernández Padilla and participated in competitions such as the “Encuentro Vallenato Femenino”, where she won first place in 2016.

Diana Burco made history by becoming the first woman to be nominated for a Latin Grammy in the category of Best Cumbia/Vallenato Album in 2018 with her self-titled debut album. Her second album, “Río Abajo”, earned her another Latin Grammy nomination in 2021 in the category of Best Contemporary Tropical Album. In 2023, she released her third album, “Karma”, under the Codiscos label, which was also nominated for the Latin Grammy for Best Contemporary Tropical Album.

She is also the first artist from Santander to receive a Latin Grammy, which she won in 2023 for her album “Karma”. Her music skillfully blends traditional Colombian elements with contemporary pop, creating a passionate and authentic musical world. In addition to her music career, Diana Burco also appeared as an actress in the television series “Tarde lo Conocí”.

She has participated in several international events such as SXSW 2023 and toured the United States in March 2022, with performances at prestigious venues like the Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center. Her career reflects her exceptional talent and her pioneering role for women in Colombian music.