Carpe Diem, Catalan Rhapsody No. 6 (symphonic band)

Carpe Diem was written during the months of February and March 2019 commissioned by the Federació Balear de Bandes de Música i Associacions Musicals (Balearic Federation of symphonic bands and musical associations). My purpose was to compose an original piece for symphonic band of medium difficulty, basically tonal and with an affordable duration for semi-professional groups.

Carpe Diem (Seize the day) wants to be a small reflection on the brevity of our life, in which normally we all oscillate between moments of optimism and others more depressive. When we reach a certain age and look back a little, we realize that everything has gone by too fast, and it is time to enjoy the present intensely. Let us seize the days because the future is uncertain, and in a short time death will inevitably come to us. Let us enjoy the world around us, nature, the people we love, and let us seek happiness to the fullest while we are still in good health.

Musically, the main thematic material comes from the Catalan popular song, presenting, manipulating and combining the melodies in a free and varied way. The work begins by glossing melodies of a sad, slow and melancholic character: La presó de Lleida and La mort i la donzella. Little by little, the new tunes become more cheerful, fast and in major keys: La cançó del lladre, Muntanyes regalades, L’hereu Riera and El Rossinyol, these last two juxtaposed in combination.

There follows a slow central part based on El testament d’Amèlia, an extremely sad tune of great emotion, returning to those more melancholic spaces of our existence.

The repetition of this melody is already combined with La presó de Lleida, thus initiating a re-exposition of the whole first part, rather more abbreviated and manipulated. A very gradual rise of tension will lead to culminate the work in a final euphoric and brilliant space, honoring what the title of the work indicates.

(Salvador Brotons)

Carpe Diem – Youtube