#18– November 25, 2019
Polifemo
ANDRÉS VALERO CASTELLS
Spanish composer, conductor and pedagogue, Andrés Valero Castells is the author of our composition of the week.
Polifemo was written in 2000 and it was commissioned by the Town of Valencia, Spain, as a compulsory piece for the “Certamen Internacional de Bandas Ciutat de Valencia” for its 2001 edition.
Ever since, Polifemo has become a staple of the Spanish literature for band, receiving countless performances and at least 15 commercial recordings.
Polifemo has a duration of about 14 minutes. It uses a standard Spanish band setting, including flugelhorns, optional cello and double basses, as a well as a large percussion set, with some special instruments like a jug, conch-shell or ocean drum.
Later in 2006, Andrés Valero would write an extended version of the work, dedicated this time to the City of Córdoba’s Symphony Orchestra, called “Polifemo and Galatea”. The setting for winds would appear in 2010. It has a duration of about 22 minutes. Both versions are edited by Piles.
Andrés Valero (1973, Silla, Spain) studied trumpet, piano and composition at the conservatoires of Valencia and Murcia.
He is currently professor for composition at the Joaquin Rodrigo Conservatoire of Valencia, as well as a member of the Academy of Valencian Music. He has an extensive catalogue, including music for orchestra, wind ensemble, chamber music, choir and solo works.
His music has been performed in all continents, and was acknowledged with
He is the founder of the Ensemble Estudi Obert, aiming to perform large-scale chamber music written in the 20th and 21st centuries.
As a conductor he appeared with many of the major bands and orchestras of his home country.
more information under
http://www.andresvalero.com
