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On "Santa Águeda" - (2016)
for piano
Santa Águeda, or Saint Agatha, is both the Basque name of a Roman Catholic saint and a traditional Basque folk melody. The text of the song is in Basque: "Zorion, etxe hontako denoi! / Oles egitera gatoz, /aterik ate ohitura zaharra / aurten berritzeko asmoz" and sings "Wishing happiness to all who live in this house / we come to greet you / renewing the old custom / of going from door to door." The observance of this saint's day is the occasion for parades around towns in the Basque region on Saint Agatha's Eve. Homeowners hear a song about her life, accompanied by the beats of walking sticks and perhaps a prayer for the departed in that house.
These gentle variations sing sweet colors of blessing, after the Basque theme with its changing meters obedient to the text.
2 pages, circa 3' 30" - an MP3 demo is here:
The score is available as a free PDF download, though any major commercial performance or recording of the work is prohibited without prior arrangement with the composer. Click on the graphic below for this piano score.
