Mid West Diary

Federico García-Castells

2000z

Orchestra

This piece is inspired by some events and every day sounds in Kansas City, it starts when the sun very slowly rises (Strings and Percussion) and the wind chimes hanging in the porches (Vibraphone and Marimba) can be heard, as the sun rises the whistle from the train (Flutes, Clarinets and Trombones) that comes and goes every day can also be heard from the distance, a little later one person walks on the sidewalk (Marimba), she is the first person out that day, while she walks to school she can hear the sound of the grasshoppers (Violins playing ricochet) and see the squirrels (Xylophone); with movements which start and finish abruptly the squirrels come down from the trees, they look for food and they chase each other; a little later, the sound of a Tam Tam (Tam Tam) that comes from one of the houses in the neighborhood can be heard and at the same time there are the bell sounds coming from different churches (Chimes) which start their services, the music played by the bells is gradually imitated and modified throughout the day by the students from the conservatory (all the orchestra’s sections), just before the sunsets a strange sound comes gradually, it’s the cicadas (Vibra-slap) that live in the City’s trees and bushes by the thousands, the cicadas sound eventually becomes more intense, dissonant and complex (Strings and Flutes), as the day turns into night the sound gradually fades away and the piece ends.