Ataràxia (Ataraxy), Symphonic movement No. 2 for orchestra

Ataraxy is a piece written during the Fall of 1984. It was premiered by the Barcelona City Orquestra under the direction of Antoni Ros Marbà during the 84-85 season. Ataraxy, according to the Greek philosophers, is the soul state in which we can reach the perfect emotional balance and eventually happiness, the right measure between the reason and the feelings.

The piece follows an A-B-A form or a Slow – Fast – Slow planning.

It starts with the strings’ high register in slow tempo seeking a relaxing ambiance. The first theme is introduced by the violins and answered by the low strings. The woodwinds present some more flexible rhythmic ideas. All this slow part contains the seed motives that will be developed in section B.

In the Allegro moderato part, the clarinet introduces a characteristic waving theme which will become very prominent. Later, the violins introduce a new lyric melody accompanied by the waving theme underneath the lower strings. A new idea in the brass creates some agitation to reach a culminating point leading to the A part return main theme, now fully instrumentated, and under a powerful horns and bassoons countermelody. After a distension by the harp, it starts a very slow Coda that grows little by little to a very fully luminous ending.

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