Caudal Bravío: Joropo para cuatro y orquesta de cuerdas pulsadas

Abstract

The music from the Colombian-Venezuelan plains and the Colombian Andean region has had various points of convergence throughout history. The musical piece Caudal Bravío brings together different aspects of the music and culture of these regions, using the cuatro as the central and unifying musical and cultural axis of a broad spectrum of characteristics and ideas that interact with each other across several dimensions throughout its creative process and interpretation. This work delves into the design of the musical piece for cuatro and plucked string orchestra, where the creation of the musical piece is based on: the regional music of the Colombian-Venezuelan plains known as joropo —particularly the joropo por derecho— the cuatro as the central element and unifier of the musical ensemble and various cultural concepts, ensembles of plucked strings made up of popular Colombian instruments from the plains and Andean regions, and the orchestral field —estudiantina form in this case— contributing to the growth and dissemination of the repertoire for cuatro, joropo, and plucked string ensembles. This work develops the musical concepts and creation processes employed in the realization of the piece, explores the origins of the cuatro and joropos por derecho, including the golpes seis media docena and seis del sapo, and showcases several elements that guided the creation of Caudal Bravío.