O RECREIO DA BIGAS

O Recreio da Bigas
for child string orchestra

• composition date: 2016
• duration: ca. 1:15 min.
• dedication: «For my little princess Beatriz to play in her children’s string orchestra at the Porto Conservatory of Music. With all the love in the world!»
• premiere:
  • May 27, 2016 | Porto Conservatory of Music Auditorium
    Porto Conservatory of Music Child String Orchestra | dir. prof.ª Cecília Falcão
• instrumentation:
  • violins 1 / violins 2 / violins 3 [optional] / violas / violoncellos / contrabasses [optional]

SYNOPSIS:

I wrote this very short piece in January 2016 as a gift for my youngest daughter, Beatriz (for whom “Bigas” is an affectionate nickname). At the time, she was playing viola in the children’s string orchestra conducted by Prof. Cecília Falcão at the Porto Conservatory of Music.

The writing is, naturally, very simple and fully adapted to beginners and their technical limitations; nevertheless, I sought to introduce a variety of basic playing techniques, such as arco and pizzicato. The piece was conceived for four distinct instrumental parts, with optional parts for third violins (which double and may substitute the violas) and double basses (which double the cello part exactly). This flexibility allows the work to be performed by different orchestral configurations, adapting it to the resources and realities of each school at any given time.

Writing for this age group was, for me, a considerable challenge, but at the same time an indescribable pleasure. I hope that this modest contribution may bring young learners as much joy and satisfaction as I felt hearing it performed by my daughter and her colleagues at the Porto Conservatory of Music.

buy sheet music:
contact the composer here.