Lorca Soundscape Songs #1: Vuelta de paseo - After a Walk
The Poem Vuelta de paseo reminded me of the very first time I walked through the Manhattan streets. The contrast between the oppressive skyscrapers and the sense of freedom that doesn’t exist anywhere else. I wrote this as a quasi-chorale piece in which every single voice would have its own identity to echo the intersection of diversity and uniformity of the city.
As a composer, I stand by the Stravinsky quote: “A good composer does not imitate; he steals.” This is what I stole from on this one:
A first idea was the “suspension of time” feel.... and a Sting song called “Wild Wild Sea” came immediately to mind. I like how Sting deals with time here, most of the chords are anticipated, not on the downbeat, and the drums are not really hitting hard, thus this “suspension” feel is created.
Also, who cannot think of Bach when attempting to write a chorale? I listen and play Bach music constantly, it’s part of the air I breath!
Sting: “Wild Wild Sea”
J.S. Bach: “St.John’s Passion”