Wawango
Tarik Ghiradella
About this work:
WAWANGO was composed as a rhythmic journey through the eclectic
and ever growing, culturally diverse musical language in America.
Aside from the innate classical elements, the piece explores a wide
range of popular music. Dance music in many of its forms: jazz, house,
Latin and rock, has always been an important part of American popular
culture and, over the years, has accumulated a large archive of rhythmic
invention.
The rhythms explored in this piece span stylistic barriers from club
music to big band music to progressive rock and Latin jazz.
Some of the rhythms have even been lifted right out of books I studied
as a drummer. The "Wawango"( guaguanco) for instance, is one of these
rhythms.
It was clear to me, when I began this piece that I needed to draw from
my life as a drummer. First I had to work up the courage to allow myself
to take the risk of, essentially, orchestrating drumbeats. It was scary when
I asked myself "where do these beats come from?" Progressive rock groups
like Rush, who partly ignited my desire to be a musician, are not familiar
territory within an orchestral genre. As the piece progressed I realized that
I was not writing an interpretation of popular rhythms but rather a collection
based on my own experience with them.
Year composed: 2003
Duration: 00:09:30
Ensemble type: Orchestra:Chamber Orchestra
Instrumentation: 2 Flute, 2 Oboe, 2 Clarinet, 2 Bassoon, 4 Horn in F, 2 Trumpet, 2 Trombone, 1 Bass Trombone, 1 Tuba, 1 Timpani, 2 Percussion (General), 1 Piano, 1 Strings (General)