FABIAN ALMAZAN
Alcanza Suite No 1: Vida Absurda y Bella (score and parts)Format: 83 page PDF digital downloadvoice, guitar, piano, bass, string quartet & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) English: This movement is meant to depict the ever surprising nature of simply living our lives. Life is not a perfectly executed plan. We might think our day is going to unravel in particular manner but along the way, we encounter completely unexpected incidents, tragedies, surprises,…we find ourselves having to take pauses for unexpected beauty where we wouldn’t have predicted. Life is absurd and beautiful. -Fabian Almazan
Español: Este movimiento representa lo sorprendente e impredecible que puede ser nuestra existencia. La vida no es un plan perfectamente ejecutado. Podríamos pensar que nuestro día se va a desarrollar de una manera particular, pero al final de este nos suceden cosas completamente inesperadas: tragedias, sorpresas, puro aburrimiento… y de repente nos encontramos tomando una pausa para reconocer cosas bellas e inesperadas. La vida es absurda y hermosa. -Fabian Almazan
Alcanza Suite No 1: Vida Absurda y Bella (score only)Format: 44 page PDF digital downloadvoice, guitar, piano, bass, string quartet & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) English: This movement is meant to depict the ever surprising nature of simply living our lives. Life is not a perfectly executed plan. We might think our day is going to unravel in particular manner but along the way, we encounter completely unexpected incidents, tragedies, surprises,…we find ourselves having to take pauses for unexpected beauty where we wouldn’t have predicted. Life is absurd and beautiful. -Fabian Almazan
Español: Este movimiento representa lo sorprendente e impredecible que puede ser nuestra existencia. La vida no es un plan perfectamente ejecutado. Podríamos pensar que nuestro día se va a desarrollar de una manera particular, pero al final de este nos suceden cosas completamente inesperadas: tragedias, sorpresas, puro aburrimiento… y de repente nos encontramos tomando una pausa para reconocer cosas bellas e inesperadas. La vida es absurda y hermosa. -Fabian Almazan
Alcanza Suite No 2: Marea Baja (score only)Format: 20 page PDF digital downloadvoice, guitar, piano, bass, string quartet & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) English: A couple of years ago, I performed in a small seaside town in Brazil called Jericoacoara. It’s unusual to have nights off on tours but for whatever reason, we had two nights off in this incredibly beautiful place. On the second night I noticed that the tide was extremely low- so low that you could walk what felt like a mile into the ocean. I ventured so far out (into where there had been water during the day) that night that the lights on the shore began to fade and I found myself in darkness- nothing but stars above and no sound other than the waves. I was profoundly moved by how miraculous and insignificant everything felt. As a nature lover, I always believed that planet earth is alive and that there is an inherent magical quality to life. But here I was looking up into a universe full of rocks and gases; inanimate objects that have been around floating and colliding, jumbled up for 13.8 billion years. It was both immensely spiritual and dead at the same time. It was a life-changing reflection into the mysterious, precious and brief existence we are in. “Marea Baja” is meant to reflect the walk from the lights of the town into the darkness of the ocean, and from there into the unknown. -Fabian Almazan
Español: Hace un par de años, tocamos en una pequeña ciudad costera de Brasil llamada Jericoacoara. Es inusual tener noches sin concierto en estas giras, pero por cualquier razón, tuvimos dos noches libres en este paraje increíblemente hermoso. Durante la segunda noche me di cuenta de que la marea estaba extremadamente baja, así que pude caminar lo que a mi juicio aparentaba ser una milla océano adentro. Me aventuré a adentrarme tanto esa noche que las luces de la orilla comenzaron a desvanecerse y me encontré en una oscuridad total, solo me acompañaban las estrellas en el cielo y el sonido de las olas. Me sentí profundamente conmovido por lo milagroso y - a la misma vez - insignificante que se sentía todo. Como amante de la naturaleza, siempre he creído que el planeta tierra está vivo y que hay una calidad mágica inherente a la vida. Pero aquí estaba mirando hacia un universo lleno de rocas y gases, objetos inanimados que han estado alrededor flotando y chocando uno contra el otro, mezclándose durante mas de13 mil millones de años. Era algo inmensamente espiritual pero inanimadamente muerto a la misma vez. La vida es misteriosa, delicada y breve. "Marea baja" comparte un paseo desde las luces de la ciudad hacia la oscuridad del océano, y de allí, hacia lo desconocido." -Fabian Almazan
Alcanza Suite No 2: Marea Baja (score and parts)Format: 47 page PDF digital downloadvoice, guitar, piano, bass, string quartet & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) English: A couple of years ago, I performed in a small seaside town in Brazil called Jericoacoara. It’s unusual to have nights off on tours but for whatever reason, we had two nights off in this incredibly beautiful place. On the second night I noticed that the tide was extremely low- so low that you could walk what felt like a mile into the ocean. I ventured so far out (into where there had been water during the day) that night that the lights on the shore began to fade and I found myself in darkness- nothing but stars above and no sound other than the waves. I was profoundly moved by how miraculous and insignificant everything felt. As a nature lover, I always believed that planet earth is alive and that there is an inherent magical quality to life. But here I was looking up into a universe full of rocks and gases; inanimate objects that have been around floating and colliding, jumbled up for 13.8 billion years. It was both immensely spiritual and dead at the same time. It was a life-changing reflection into the mysterious, precious and brief existence we are in. “Marea Baja” is meant to reflect the walk from the lights of the town into the darkness of the ocean, and from there into the unknown. -Fabian Almazan
Español: Hace un par de años, tocamos en una pequeña ciudad costera de Brasil llamada Jericoacoara. Es inusual tener noches sin concierto en estas giras, pero por cualquier razón, tuvimos dos noches libres en este paraje increíblemente hermoso. Durante la segunda noche me di cuenta de que la marea estaba extremadamente baja, así que pude caminar lo que a mi juicio aparentaba ser una milla océano adentro. Me aventuré a adentrarme tanto esa noche que las luces de la orilla comenzaron a desvanecerse y me encontré en una oscuridad total, solo me acompañaban las estrellas en el cielo y el sonido de las olas. Me sentí profundamente conmovido por lo milagroso y - a la misma vez - insignificante que se sentía todo. Como amante de la naturaleza, siempre he creído que el planeta tierra está vivo y que hay una calidad mágica inherente a la vida. Pero aquí estaba mirando hacia un universo lleno de rocas y gases, objetos inanimados que han estado alrededor flotando y chocando uno contra el otro, mezclándose durante mas de13 mil millones de años. Era algo inmensamente espiritual pero inanimadamente muerto a la misma vez. La vida es misteriosa, delicada y breve. "Marea baja" comparte un paseo desde las luces de la ciudad hacia la oscuridad del océano, y de allí, hacia lo desconocido." -Fabian Almazan
Alcanza Suite No 3: Verla (score only)Format: 6 page PDF digital downloadvoice, guitar, piano, bass, string quartet & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) English: “Verla” is a continuation of “Marea Baja.” Verla" is Spanish for “seeing her” and in this instance, the “her” is the ever-changing “truth” that I briefly felt as I stood that night in the Jericoacoara darkness, with nothing but stars above and no other sound than that of the waves. -Fabian Almazan
Español: "Verla" es una continuación de "Marea Baja". La personificación de la verdad a la que nos referimos en el titulo de este movimiento. La vi brevemente, una verdad siempre cambiante. Me paré esa noche en la oscuridad de Jericoacoara con la única compañía de ella a mi alrededor, las estrellas sobre mi, y un sonido claro de las olas distantes. -Fabian Almazan
Alcanza Suite No 3: Verla (score and parts)Format: 18 page PDF digital downloadvoice, guitar, piano, bass, string quartet & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) English: “Verla” is a continuation of “Marea Baja.” Verla" is Spanish for “seeing her” and in this instance, the “her” is the ever-changing “truth” that I briefly felt as I stood that night in the Jericoacoara darkness, with nothing but stars above and no other sound than that of the waves. -Fabian Almazan
Español: "Verla" es una continuación de "Marea Baja". La personificación de la verdad a la que nos referimos en el titulo de este movimiento. La vi brevemente, una verdad siempre cambiante. Me paré esa noche en la oscuridad de Jericoacoara con la única compañía de ella a mi alrededor, las estrellas sobre mi, y un sonido claro de las olas distantes. -Fabian Almazan
Alcanza Suite No 4: Mas (score and parts)Format: 24 page PDF digital downloadvoice, guitar, piano, bass, string quartet & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) English: This song is intended to serve as an outlet for the frustration that we sometimes experience in finding ourselves. My hope is that people, particularly teenagers (because it was in my late childhood/early adulthood that I began searching for my identity) find consolation in this song- that they find comfort in the lyrics and that it is not strange or weird to have that intense, burning for finding something “more” out of life. It is OK to not settle for the same path that everyone expects us to take. It is our lives and our right to pursue our aspirations- whatever they may be. -Fabian Almazan
Español: Esta canción sirve como escape de la frustración que a veces sentimos al tratar de encontrar quienes verdaderamente somos. A finales de mí niñez comencé buscar mi identidad. Mi esperanza es que la gente, fundamentalmente los adolescentes encuentren consuelo en esta canción, en la letra y que sepan que no es extraño o raro sentir ese intenso y ardiente anhelo de algo “Más”. Está bien no conformarse con el camino que todos esperan que tomemos. Es nuestra vida y nuestro derecho perseguir nuestras aspiraciones, cualesquiera que sean. -Fabian Almazan
Alcanza Suite No 4: Mas (score only)Format: 10 page PDF digital downloadvoice, guitar, piano, bass, string quartet & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) English: This song is intended to serve as an outlet for the frustration that we sometimes experience in finding ourselves. My hope is that people, particularly teenagers (because it was in my late childhood/early adulthood that I began searching for my identity) find consolation in this song- that they find comfort in the lyrics and that it is not strange or weird to have that intense, burning for finding something “more” out of life. It is OK to not settle for the same path that everyone expects us to take. It is our lives and our right to pursue our aspirations- whatever they may be. -Fabian Almazan
Español: Esta canción sirve como escape de la frustración que a veces sentimos al tratar de encontrar quienes verdaderamente somos. A finales de mí niñez comencé buscar mi identidad. Mi esperanza es que la gente, fundamentalmente los adolescentes encuentren consuelo en esta canción, en la letra y que sepan que no es extraño o raro sentir ese intenso y ardiente anhelo de algo “Más”. Está bien no conformarse con el camino que todos esperan que tomemos. Es nuestra vida y nuestro derecho perseguir nuestras aspiraciones, cualesquiera que sean. -Fabian Almazan
Alcanza Suite No 5: Tribu T9 (score only)Format: 16 page PDF digital downloadvoice, guitar, piano, bass, string quartet & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) English: This track deals with adolescence similarly to how “Mas” does. When I first moved to New York in 2003, the smartphone had not made its impact on society yet and at the time, cellphones used something called T9 where each number button had 3 or 4 letters on it and when you’d try to type out a message, the phone would try to guess what you were trying to write down. There were times when I would be out in the city, late at night with my peers, who were all just as enamored and stunned by the music scene in New York, where inevitably at some point, everyone’s heads would be tilted down and texting via T9 would ensue. This was what I thought of as the “T9 tribe”- a bunch of young kids playing music in New York that are now leading a world-wide movement in the evolution of jazz. -Fabian Almazan
Español: Este movimiento vincula a la adolescencia de una manera similar a lo ocurrido en: "Mas" . Cuando me mudé a Nueva York en el 2003, el “smart-phone” no había tenido aun el impacto en la sociedad que actualmente posee. Los teléfonos celulares usaban algo llamado "T9" donde cada botón de número tenía 3 o 4 letras incluidas y cuando se intentaba escribir un mensaje, el teléfono trataba de adivinar lo que se pretendía anotar. Había momentos en que yo estaba en la ciudad, tarde en la noche con mis compañeros, que estaban todos tan enamorados e impactados - como yo - por la escena musical que caracteriza a Nueva York, donde inevitablemente en algún momento, las cabezas de todo el mundo se inclinaban hacia abajo para elaborar mensajes de texto a través de "T9". Esto es lo que yo pienso de la "tribu T9", un grupo de jóvenes niños tocando música en Nueva York quienes hoy en día lideran un movimiento mundial en la evolución del jazz. -Fabian Almazan
Alcanza Suite No 5: Tribu T9 (score and parts)Format: 53 page PDF digital downloadvoice, guitar, piano, bass, string quartet & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) English: This track deals with adolescence similarly to how “Mas” does. When I first moved to New York in 2003, the smartphone had not made its impact on society yet and at the time, cellphones used something called T9 where each number button had 3 or 4 letters on it and when you’d try to type out a message, the phone would try to guess what you were trying to write down. There were times when I would be out in the city, late at night with my peers, who were all just as enamored and stunned by the music scene in New York, where inevitably at some point, everyone’s heads would be tilted down and texting via T9 would ensue. This was what I thought of as the “T9 tribe”- a bunch of young kids playing music in New York that are now leading a world-wide movement in the evolution of jazz. -Fabian Almazan
Español: Este movimiento vincula a la adolescencia de una manera similar a lo ocurrido en: "Mas" . Cuando me mudé a Nueva York en el 2003, el “smart-phone” no había tenido aun el impacto en la sociedad que actualmente posee. Los teléfonos celulares usaban algo llamado "T9" donde cada botón de número tenía 3 o 4 letras incluidas y cuando se intentaba escribir un mensaje, el teléfono trataba de adivinar lo que se pretendía anotar. Había momentos en que yo estaba en la ciudad, tarde en la noche con mis compañeros, que estaban todos tan enamorados e impactados - como yo - por la escena musical que caracteriza a Nueva York, donde inevitablemente en algún momento, las cabezas de todo el mundo se inclinaban hacia abajo para elaborar mensajes de texto a través de "T9". Esto es lo que yo pienso de la "tribu T9", un grupo de jóvenes niños tocando música en Nueva York quienes hoy en día lideran un movimiento mundial en la evolución del jazz. -Fabian Almazan
Alcanza Suite No 6: Cazador Antiguo (score only)Format: 22 page PDF digital downloadvoice, guitar, piano, bass, string quartet & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) English: The idea behind this movement is that the music is adapting the characteristics of an “ancient hunter” (title translated into english). I try to portray those primal, reptilian brain aspects of our identity as modern day human beings. Our ancestors had no choice but to hunt. And we ourselves are (no matter we try to convince ourselves otherwise) still easy prey for other predators. When one takes the human being out of the natural world, from the forests and jungles to metropolises and financial districts, there we get a fabricated, money driven prey/predator paradigm. And I don’t think it’s pretty, but it’s the reality of our society. -Fabian Almazan
Español: En este movimiento, la música adopta las características de un cazador antiguo. Intento retratar esos aspectos primordiales "reptilianos" del cerebro de nuestra identidad como seres humanos modernos. Para nuestros antepasados la caza no fue una opción sino una necesidad y nosotros mismos (aunque no queramos entenderlo) somos una presa fácil para otros depredadores. Cuando uno saca al ser humano del mundo natural, los bosques y las selvas, a las actuales metrópolis y distritos financieros, nos encontramos en presencia de un paradigma entre "presa" / "depredador" fabricado por el dinero. No creo que sea bonito, pero es la realidad de nuestra sociedad. -Fabian Almazan
Alcanza Suite No 6: Cazador Antiguo (score and parts)Format: 45 page PDF digital downloadvoice, guitar, piano, bass, string quartet & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) English: The idea behind this movement is that the music is adapting the characteristics of an “ancient hunter” (title translated into english). I try to portray those primal, reptilian brain aspects of our identity as modern day human beings. Our ancestors had no choice but to hunt. And we ourselves are (no matter we try to convince ourselves otherwise) still easy prey for other predators. When one takes the human being out of the natural world, from the forests and jungles to metropolises and financial districts, there we get a fabricated, money driven prey/predator paradigm. And I don’t think it’s pretty, but it’s the reality of our society. -Fabian Almazan
Español: En este movimiento, la música adopta las características de un cazador antiguo. Intento retratar esos aspectos primordiales "reptilianos" del cerebro de nuestra identidad como seres humanos modernos. Para nuestros antepasados la caza no fue una opción sino una necesidad y nosotros mismos (aunque no queramos entenderlo) somos una presa fácil para otros depredadores. Cuando uno saca al ser humano del mundo natural, los bosques y las selvas, a las actuales metrópolis y distritos financieros, nos encontramos en presencia de un paradigma entre "presa" / "depredador" fabricado por el dinero. No creo que sea bonito, pero es la realidad de nuestra sociedad. -Fabian Almazan
Alcanza Suite No 7: Pater Familias (score only)Format: 38 page PDF digital downloadvoice, guitar, piano, bass, string quartet & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) English: In line with the themes explored in this music… finding your way, having the courage to find yourself and navigating through the defining years of adolescence, “Pater Familias” looks at these things from the point of view of our parent, and the challenges of parenthood. The term paterfamilias is latin for “head of the family.” This movement is lovingly dedicated to my father, Rafael Almazan. -Fabian Almazan
Español: Consecuentemente con la línea de los temas explorados en esta música ... en búsqueda de un camino, teniendo el valor de encontrarnos a nosotros mismos y navegando a través de los años definitorios de la adolescencia, "Pater Familias" aborda estas temáticas desde el punto de vista de nuestros padres, y los retos de paternidad. El término latino: "Paterfamilias" es sinónimo de: "cabeza de familia". Este movimiento esta dedicado a mi padre, Rafael Almazán, a quien quiero mucho. -Fabian Almazan
Alcanza Suite No 7: Pater Familias (score and parts)Format: 74 page PDF digital downloadvoice, guitar, piano, bass, string quartet & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) English: In line with the themes explored in this music… finding your way, having the courage to find yourself and navigating through the defining years of adolescence, “Pater Familias” looks at these things from the point of view of our parent, and the challenges of parenthood. The term paterfamilias is latin for “head of the family.” This movement is lovingly dedicated to my father, Rafael Almazan. -Fabian Almazan
Español: Consecuentemente con la línea de los temas explorados en esta música ... en búsqueda de un camino, teniendo el valor de encontrarnos a nosotros mismos y navegando a través de los años definitorios de la adolescencia, "Pater Familias" aborda estas temáticas desde el punto de vista de nuestros padres, y los retos de paternidad. El término latino: "Paterfamilias" es sinónimo de: "cabeza de familia". Este movimiento esta dedicado a mi padre, Rafael Almazán, a quien quiero mucho. -Fabian Almazan
Alcanza Suite No 8: Este Lugar (score only)Format: 8 page PDF digital downloadvoice, guitar, piano, bass, string quartet & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) English: In this movement entitled “Este Lugar” (Spanish for “This Place”), on the one hand, you have the migration from a place you know and love to a foreign land; and on the other, living in a place you know and love where foreigner have arrived and in turn threaten its survival. The difference is that the migration is that of people moving from place to place, but its the plants and trees that are the original inhabitants of “This Place.” -Fabian Almazan
Español: En este movimiento titulado "Este Lugar", de un lado, tenemos una migración procedente de su tierra amada hacia una tierra ajena y extraña. Del otro, un lugar familiar y bello donde reciben a extranjeros, amenazando su supervivencia. El hecho es que la diferencia radica en que la migración se realiza entre personas que se desplazan de un lugar a otro, pero los verdaderos habitantes originales de "Este lugar" son las plantas y los árboles. -Fabian Almazan
Alcanza Suite No 8: Este Lugar (score and parts)Format: 24 page PDF digital downloadvoice, guitar, piano, bass, string quartet & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) English: In this movement entitled “Este Lugar” (Spanish for “This Place”), on the one hand, you have the migration from a place you know and love to a foreign land; and on the other, living in a place you know and love where foreigner have arrived and in turn threaten its survival. The difference is that the migration is that of people moving from place to place, but its the plants and trees that are the original inhabitants of “This Place.” -Fabian Almazan
Español: En este movimiento titulado "Este Lugar", de un lado, tenemos una migración procedente de su tierra amada hacia una tierra ajena y extraña. Del otro, un lugar familiar y bello donde reciben a extranjeros, amenazando su supervivencia. El hecho es que la diferencia radica en que la migración se realiza entre personas que se desplazan de un lugar a otro, pero los verdaderos habitantes originales de "Este lugar" son las plantas y los árboles. -Fabian Almazan
Alcanza Suite No 9: Marea Alta (score only)Format: 23 page PDF digital downloadvoice, guitar, piano, bass, string quartet & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) English: Description of Track: In this final movement, we come back to re-visit that beautiful shoreline we experienced in “Marea Baja” (the second movement of this suite). The difference this time however, is that it is high tide and the ocean water brings with it all of the adventures we have had since we last set foot on this sand. Musically, one hears a collage of motifs returning amid a backdrop of drums energetically providing the underlining pulse for the rest of the instruments to “swim” in. -Fabian Almazan
Español: En este último movimiento, revisitámos esa hermosa costa que vivimos en "Marea Baja" (segundo movimiento). La diferencia es que en esta ocasión, la marea está alta y el agua del océano trae consigo todas las aventuras que hemos tenido desde que pusimos pie en la arena la última vez. Musicalmente, se oye un "collage" de motivos que vuelven en medio de un fondo de tambores, proporcionando enérgicamente el pulso requerido para que el resto de los instrumentos puedan "nadar". -Fabian Almazan
Alcanza Suite No 9: Marea Alta (score and parts)Format: 82 page PDF digital downloadvoice, guitar, piano, bass, string quartet & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) English: Description of Track: In this final movement, we come back to re-visit that beautiful shoreline we experienced in “Marea Baja” (the second movement of this suite). The difference this time however, is that it is high tide and the ocean water brings with it all of the adventures we have had since we last set foot on this sand. Musically, one hears a collage of motifs returning amid a backdrop of drums energetically providing the underlining pulse for the rest of the instruments to “swim” in. -Fabian Almazan
Español: En este último movimiento, revisitámos esa hermosa costa que vivimos en "Marea Baja" (segundo movimiento). La diferencia es que en esta ocasión, la marea está alta y el agua del océano trae consigo todas las aventuras que hemos tenido desde que pusimos pie en la arena la última vez. Musicalmente, se oye un "collage" de motivos que vuelven en medio de un fondo de tambores, proporcionando enérgicamente el pulso requerido para que el resto de los instrumentos puedan "nadar". -Fabian Almazan
The Full Alcanza Suite Score (9 pieces)Format: 178 page PDF digital downloadvoice, guitar, piano, bass, string quartet & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP)
The Full Alcanza Suite Parts and Score (9 pieces)Format: 442 page PDF digital downloadvoice, guitar, piano, bass, string quartet & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) All of it. Everything. In one place
A New Child in an Old Placescore & parts for: string quartet, piano, bass & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) The inspiration behind this piece came from the time I have spent in New Orleans. I have observed that there is a new generation of children living in New Orleans that either were born after or were simply too young to remember experiencing hurricane Katrina. These children are happy and enjoying life in a place that underwent catastrophic difficulties. As a composer, I'm trying meld together two distinctly different reactions/interpretations of the same situation; one from the point of view of the children, in their infancy, wholly devoted to having fun - the other is that of the adult, who is trying to pick up the pieces of a catastrophic event and return to a normal, productive life. New generations of people have been sprouting forth for thousands of years on this planet and every single time, we enter this life as children, completely unaware of the dangers and challenges that inevitably form our identity and character throughout our lives. -fabian almazan
El Coquí's Dreamscore & parts for: string quartet & drums and/or percussion This is a drum feature that I wrote for an amazing drummer, Henry Cole, originally from Puerto Rico, now living in New York City. The coquí is the single most distinctive animal in the island of Puerto Rico, a small tree frog with a distinctive call. The instrumentation for this piece is only drums and strings. The strings play pizzicato the entire time. I play around as a composer musically using the call of the coquí as a musical motif. The sound that results from having only percussion and pizzacato strings together is reminiscent of South American folk music played by guitar or harp-like instruments.
-fabian almazan
Espejosscore & parts for: voice, string quartet, piano, bass & drumsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) I wrote this song, which is spanish for “mirrors”, right around the time of the tragic Sandy Hook Elementary shooting. It was also the time period after the divisive 2012 elections in the U.S. and amidst the “Arab Spring” clashes happening in the Middle East. I was saddened as I observed people alienating themselves from each other based on their belief system. It seemed to me that they were isolating themselves from one another, resulting in tragedy brought forth by violence. People began viewing others as different things from themselves and thus strange and worthless. The idea behind the song “Espejos” is that we are all reflections of each other, and although we are all unique and distinct individuals, we are all shoots from the stem of the same rhizome and have been so for the thousands of years we’ve roamed this planet as a species. -fabian almazan
Hacia el Airescore & parts for: voice(s), guitar, string quartet, piano, bass, drums This composition was initially recorded with Terence Blanchard for the “Choices” album. Although it wasn’t intended to be a string quartet/trio piece, ever since we recorded it with Terence, I always heard it with the strings in my head so I decided to go forward and record it again with this instrumentation. The inspiration behind it is the following:There is a non-profit group in Washington, D.C. called the E.C.C (earth conservation corps). They take in troubled youths from the streets and offer them a decent paying job to clean up the Anacostia River, which is heavily polluted. One of the things they do is rehabilitate injured or sick bald eagles that live along the river. “Hacia el Aire” means “towards the air” and the reason for the title is that, as a result of the violence in the ghettos from where these young men and women came from, the E.C.C began naming the rehabilitated, released eagles after the people who took care of them, who had been shot to death in their neighborhoods. These kids were criticized for not “keepin’ it real” because they were working towards helping the environment instead of staying in the hood and doing what their peers were doing.... and for that, they were persecuted and harassed. I never met any of them, but this is my musical eulogy to them. -fabian almazan
Jamboscore & parts for: string quartet, piano, bass, drums & percussion Jambo means hello in Swahili. I took a trip to Kenya and this is the music that came out of it. It features Yosvany Terry on chekeré and Mauricio Herrera on batá on the original recording [Rhizome] so I encourage any ensemble that decides to perform this piece to invite as many percussionist as desired to play with them. In the final solo section, the strings are given different choices as to what they want to play- although it is not technically improvisation, the music provided makes an attempt to facilitate improvisation for non-improvising string players. -fabian almazan
Personalitiesscore & parts for: string quartet, piano, bass, drums This was my first attempt at composing music for an ensemble of a string quartet and piano, bass and drums. It is the title track of my first album. It includes an extended section for a piano and bass solo as well as the coda section which gives the drummer room to come forth with the rest of the ensemble supporting the energy. -fabian almazan
Rhizomescore & parts for: voice(s), string quartet, piano, bass & drums The main message of this piece is to unite people of all races and walks of life and provide them with inspiration to strive towards happiness, whatever that might mean for any given individual... The piece "Rhizome" was initially inspired by this quote I read in one of Carl Jung's books -fabian almazan:
“Life has always seemed to me like a plant that lives on its rhizome. Its true life is invisible, hidden in the rhizome. The part that appears above ground lasts only a single summer. Then it withers away—an ephemeral apparition. When we think of the unending growth and decay of life and civilizations, we cannot escape the impression of absolute nullity. Yet I have never lost a sense of something that lives and endures underneath the eternal flux. What we see is the blossom, which passes. The rhizome remains.”
Sol del Marscore & parts for: voice, guitar, string quartet, piano, bass, drums
Book of 8 Original Scores6 instrumental pieces and 2 songsOnly scores, no partsBiophilia Music (ASCAP) Includes scores of A New Child in an Old Place, El Coquí’s Dream, Espejos (song), Hacia el Aire, Jambo, Personalities, Rhizome, Sol del Mar (song)
Complete Rhizome/Personalities String Quartet BundleScores & parts for: voice (s), guitar, string quartet, piano, bass, drums & percussionBiophilia Music (ASCAP) Full Bundle includes "Book of 8 Original Scores" plus all of the following sheet music (scores & parts): A New Child in an Old Place, El Coquí’s Dream, Espejos (song), Hacia el Aire, Jambo, Personalities, Rhizome, Sol del Mar (song)
