Los pecados capitales (The Deadly Sins)

The work was commissioned by the horn player Francisco Rodriguez to be performed in the International Music Competition in Munich (ARD-Wettbewerb) 1993. It is structured in three movements: the first consists of a slow introduction “Senza rigorous,” of mysterious character, wherein the contrasting dynamics between sforzatissimo and pianissimo stand out.  Also, this first movement includes a fast and energetic part built on a rhythmic cell that is moved from position within the meter, which gives a feeling of asymmetry. The second movement, “Cadenza ad libitum”, is a markedly melancholic soliloquy technically demanding with the use of extreme tessituras and multiphonics. The last, “Pastorale” is of a more friendly and relaxed mood. The thematic material combines diatonic scales with whole-tone scales as a contrast element.