Aires Tropicales (d’Rivera)
Movements
i Alborada, ii Son, iii Habañera, iv Vals Venezolano, v Dizzyness, vi Contradanza, vii Afro
Notes
This original 7 movement work for wind quintet was commissioned by the Aspen Wind Quintet. It was premiered in 1994 in New York City. The movements are as follows: “Alborada”, a slow introduction; “Son”, with an ostinato Latin bass line in the bassoon and horn; “Habañera”, a trio movement for flute, clarinet and bassoon in the style of Ravel; “Vals Venezolano”, a lively Venezuelan waltz; “Dizzyness”, an homage to the late, great Dizzy Gillespie; “Contradanza”, an upbeat Cuban dance honoring Ernesto Lecuona; and “Afro”, which begins with a flute solo, followed by an energetic, rhythmic six-eight dance over an African ostinato.
