“Invocations of Love: A Tale from the Incas”
Work: Phani song
Composer: Juan Arroyo
Duration: 7 minutes 30 seconds
Instruments: soprano, bass flute and Paetzold Contrebass flute in C
Jean-Philippe Rameau’s opera-ballet Les Indes Galantes (1735-1736), composed with a libretto by Louis Fuzelier, ignited my imagination and inspired the creation of this new piece. During Scene 2 of the entry The Incas of Peru, Phani, a young Inca princess, sings to the gods, imploring them to act in her favor, freeing her from Huáscar, the high priest of the sun, and giving her to Carlos, the victorious conqueror she loves. By invoking the exoticism of his time, Rameau managed to create uniquely original songs and dances of the Incas.Phani Song is part of a cycle of pieces dedicated to love, where the role of Phani-Palla continuously transforms, evoking both pain and ecstasy. With a duration of 7’30”, this piece is composed for soprano, bass flute, and Paetzold contrabass flute in C. The premiere of this work took place on November 7, 2023, performed by Cecilia Barrientos, Karina Fischer, and Paola Muñoz at the XXXII Festival of Contemporary Music of the Catholic University of Chile. Phani Song received the prestigious Ibermusicas award for composition in 2022.