Fuga Con Pajarillo by Aldemaro Romero

We are happy to announce that we are the proud winners of a TONALi Award! The TONALi Awards, which is endowed with 35,000 euros for the first time, is presented in two categories: Category 1 "Courage to Utopia" (25,000 euros) and Category 2 "Awakening" (10,000 euros). The String Archestra won in Category 2 and we were therefore invited to perform at the Elbphilharmonie!

We played Venezuelan composer Aldemaro Romero's Fuga Con Pajarillo. "A pajarillo is a typical Venezuelan dance – perhaps the most famous one, alongside the joropo. It’s like a waltz, but with the accent on the weak beat – not ‘one two three, one two three,’ but ‘one two three, one two three. It’s not a comfortable dance! The piece is a pajarillo, but in combination with a complex fugue [a form of musical imitation, like a round]. The pajarillo pervading the melody and rhythm gives a sense of improvisation and contrasts with the predetermined fugal form. This is what makes this piece so fascinating.” -Gustavo Dudamel

Violinsts: Sarah Martin (concertmaster) Daniele Daude, Neneh Sowe, Elizabeth Huehuentro
Violists: Ruth Mogrovejo, Yassin Sowe
Cellists: Frederico Malverde, Angela Berg