6:00

Soprano
Violin 1
Violin 2
Viola
Cello

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There is no way to talk about this my new work Promesa without talking about my great-grandfather, Luis Rice. Almost half a century ago, he composed a song entitled Valz Esther to profess his undying love for his wife, Esther. He was younger than Esther and because of that, his love was controversial at the time. He had asked for Esther's hand in marriage a total of three times. The third time he was met with a shotgun to chase him away. Nonetheless, he persisted, eventually eloping secretly with his beloved.

Every generation of my family has since known the infamous story of Valz Esther. Luis passed the song down to his son Humberto, and Humberto passed it to his daughter Rebeca, my mother, who passed it down to me. I learned it as a young pianist, and I fell in love.

A recording of Valz Esther with soprano Olivia Gorra and pianist Jim Demster. This recording was a gift to my grandfather after he was named Alumni of the Year by El Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey.

With the first draft I gave my composition teacher, he stopped, looked at me, and said: “You don’t know what you’re doing, do you?” Truth be told, I really didn't. I wanted to make a piece that incorporated my great-grandfather's work, but I didn't want to just reiterate what he had already done in an arrangement. I needed to make it my own. Great artists steal, right? In any case, after about 4 more drafts, I brought the piece to a palatable place for my composition teacher and for myself. It's a passionate piece, and working on it has connected me to my family in many ways.

This piece is fully mine, and yet, it's fully my family's as well. This piece is about unconditional, undying love that promises your beloved the world. My work explores floating harmonies that anchor in and out of the source material. For me, this piece is the preservation of music composed almost half a century ago, an homage to my great-grandfather and my grandfather, and an immense reminder that true love is possible. This piece is dedicated to my grandfather Humberto Rice who passed away from Covid in 2020.

The piece begins right before the Big Bang, frantic figures appear in all voices as energy bounces intensely from figure to figure. Suddenly, there is a burst of energy unlike the previous gestures and so symbolizes the singularity of the Big Bang. After this point, the voices slowly calm, and individual gestures become recognizable. Harmony is introduced along with repeated figures, dynamic contrast, and expanded ranges. The piece ends with the introduction of a single melody hinting at the music to come.

Fue desde que te vi
Que conquistaste mi corazón
Por eso vengo a ti.
Para ofrecerte todo mi amor
Tus ojos al mirar,
Traspasaron mi alma
Y desde entonces todo mi ser se desvive conquistar los favores de tu querer

Quiereme mucho mi bien
y tu tambien dame tu corazón
que el destino al fin
Sellará esta unión
Quiereme mucho mi bien
quiereme como te quiero yo a ti
que tu amor
Será el momento más dulce
de mi existir.

Text by Luis Rice

It was since I saw you
That you conquered my heart
That is why I come to you.
To offer you all my love
Your eyes when looking,
Pierced my soul
And since then my whole being has gone out of its way to conquer the favors of your love

Love me my love
and you also give me your heart
that fate at last
Will seal this union
Love me my love
love me like I love you
So that your love
will be the sweetest moment
of my existence.

Translation by Christian Sedarski and J. A. J. Sedarski