Romaria Brasileira
Composer: Henrique Coe
Year of composition: 2016-18 (original for 11 winds, contrabass and percussion)
Chamber orchestra version: 2018
Duration: approximately 5′ 45”
Video: Coe’s doctoral recital in composition – University of Toronto – May 30, 2018
– Performers:
Maria Vallejo, flute
Kira Shiner, oboe
Kaye Royer, clarinet
Sam Fraser, bassoon
Daniel Ho, French horn
Brian McAuley, trumpet
Brayden Friesen, trombone
Matt Moore, percussion
Myriam Blardone, harp
Felipe Muñoz Garcia, Alexey Pankratov and Vivian Kukiel, violin I
Joella Pinto, Madeleine Zarry and Ah Young Kim, violin II
Emily Hiemstra and Vena Lin, viola
Matthew Christakos and Brendan Rogers, violoncello
Chiara Culmone, contrabass
Henrique Coe, conductor
Program note:
Romaria Brasileira (Brazilian Pilgrimage) was originally written for 11 winds, 1 percussion and 1 contrabass. It was composed in 2016/17 and received an important revision in 2017/18. The chamber orchestra version was written in 2018. The piece’s duration is of approximately 5’45’’.
“Romaria” is a Portuguese word derived from the word “Rome” and is applied to pilgrimages in general. Resembling a sonata form, the piece presents a musical theme from Brazilian’s northeast region and another theme based on the Liber Vermell de Montserrat, a medieval songbook for pilgrims in Spain. In addition, the piece also presents three Gregorian chants: Regina Coeli, Salve Regina, and Christus Vincit. We could think of pilgrims singing those Gregorian chants on the way to a Marian shrine.
Romaria Brasileira was premiered in Scarborough (Ontario) on February 3, 2018 by the Winds Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Ron Royer.
The chamber orchestra version was performed for the first time in Coe’s doctoral recital in composition at the University of Toronto on May 30, 2018.