A Musical and Cultural Exploration
Work: «Rencontres»
Composer: Juan Arroyo
Instrument: saxophone quartet
Description: Despite having started composing at a very young age, around the age of eight, this piece composed in 2005, at the age of 23, represents my first Opus. Indeed, before leaving Peru, I had composed several pieces for string quartet, orchestra, and other formations, but my penchant for perfection led me to think that everything I had written until then were merely studies or sketches of composition. Its title reflects the creative stimulation I experienced during my first months in Europe and my encounter with a hitherto idealized culture. Composed for saxophone quartet, the form of the work as well as its title materialize in the writing of intertwined solos. The knowledge and integration of different playing techniques in my music are closely linked to my time in the city of Bordeaux, where the headquarters of the European Saxophone Center is located, and to a decisive encounter with saxophonist Marie-Bernadette Charrier, professor of the saxophone class at the Bordeaux Conservatory and artistic director of the Proxima Centauri ensemble. The world premiere of «Rencontres» took place in June 2005 by the Quatuor 2.5, at the Bordeaux Conservatory, France.