#9– September 23, 2019
IMAGES
Musical impressions about Illescas (Toledo)
José Suñer Oriola
Images was commissioned by the Toledan Band from Illescas “Asociación Musical Manuel de Falla” and its conductor Miguel Sanz, to be performed at the band’s appearance during the 2017’s edition of the World Music Contest of Kerkrade, The Netherlands.
Later on, the work was chosen as the compulsory pièce for the 2nd division of the 40th edition of the famous “Certamen de Bandas de Música” from the Valencian Community.
Images call for Concert Band setting with a large percussion section, timpani, mallets and four percussion parts. Oriola uses also the Violoncello, Double Bass and Piano, but these parts are optional. They are thoroughly crossed-cued on the score. There’s only one bassoon part, as well as a flugelhorn part, besides the three standard trumpet parts.
This wonderful 14 minute’s work is cast in one single movement, divided into five sections: Arrival; Arco de Ugena; Almazara; Saint Mary Church and Hospital Sanctuary; El Greco.
Among some very colorful orchestration procedures, Images includes some passages for female and children voices, reinforcing the programmatic intention of the pièce.
José Suñer Oriola, born in El Puig de Santa Maria (Valencia), studied Harmony, Counterpoint, Analysis and Percussion at the Conservatory of Valencia, and Conducting and Composition with Maestro Julio Ribelles.
He participated in Music Festivals in Barcelona, Nimes, Luxembourg, Maastricht, Ludwigshafen, Innsbruck, Paris, Edimburgh, London, Tokyo, Shangai, Cincinnati, Nashville and Chicago.
He was a member of the San Sebastian Wind Orchestra, San Sebastian Consevatory, Bilbao Symphony Orchestra, and the Barcelona Opera Symphony Orchestra.
Nowaday, José Suñer Oriola is Professor at the Valencia Municipal Wind Orchestra.
His works are published by Catalana d’Edicions Musicals (Barcelona, Spain), Tot per l’Aire Publishers (Valencia, Spain), Rivera Publishers (Valencia, Spain), and Blas-Basen (Stockholm, Sweden) being performed in Europe, America, Australia, Japan and China. He is a member of SGAE, WASBE and the M. I. Valencian Music Academy. He is Fennell Special Prize Award at The First Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra Composition Competition 2006; SACEM Prize, third prize in composition Coups de Vents 2008 in Lille – France; also being a finalist in the Second Composition Contest Frank Ticheli in New York, USA 2009.
In November 2011 he was invited by the Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU).
In July 2013 conducted a lecture on his music in Berklee Valencia, and was nominated for his work Phobos in the Hollywood Music in Media Awards in Los Angeles, USA 2013. And in 2015 was also nominated in the HMMA for his work El Jardín de las Hespérides.
