Year: 2020 | Type: Single-movement work for flute, clarinet, 2 violins and cello | Duration: ca. 1'
“Pregón” is a Spanish word that refers to the cries of the street vendors, known as “pregoneros,” to announce their arrival. They toured the streets of Lima until the first half of the 20th century. One of the most remembered pregones is the one that advertised a type of sweet roll known as "hot revolution", made of sugar, cloves and cinnamon. This piece is based on this tune, mixed with some Peruvian rhythms, like the Marinera and the Peruvian Waltz.
Notes:
This work was commissioned for the University of Birmingham Music Department's Miniatures in Isolation initiative during the 2020 lockdown, with the specific requirement that it not exceed one minute in length. Students from the Music Department recorded their individual parts remotely, which were then compiled by faculty members into a unified video performance and shared on social media.
Despite the above—and acknowledging the student's excellent performance—since the recording is composed of separate takes, it lacks the quality of a live performance. For this reason, I have chosen to include a digital recreation here.