El Llobregat

(Score)  --  Catalan Rhapsody N. 3 for brass ensemble and percussion

This rhapsody was written during the months of October and November of 2003. The Llobregat is a Catalan rhapsody originally written for cobla and percussion, for which I later wrote this version for brass ensemble.

This is not a programmatic work such as Smetana's Vltava (Moldau). The title of the work refers to the flow of the Llobregat river, which is a narrow trickle where it springs, and a full, majestic flow when it finally meets the sea.

Along this excursion, the music starts simple and monodic, and during its course, the river has majestic moments, others more restless and yet more in a state of calm. Throughout, there is unceasing internal movement which is fluid and rhythmic.

At a structural level, the work offers three thematic kernels which are presented and immediately developed in rhapsody style. The first theme is basically lyrical and contrapuntal, the second is rhythmic and frantic dominated by the timpani and an insistent rhythm, and the last one is based on the Catalan popular song El Comte Arnau.

This song grows progressively, starting very softly with low tension, and repeating as new counterpoint is added, with which it acquires a dynamic breadth of great brightness. After a modified re-exposition and a much changed second theme, the work closes with the brightness of the popular melody interspersed with elements of the first theme.