Horn Concerto 'Connection' - Óscar Navarro

Spanish National Orchestra conducted by Josep Pons. Salvador Navarro as the Horn soloist.

I - Introduction (0:00) - Marcia (3:23) - Scherzando (9:02) - Lento (12:41) - Grand finale (20:58)

Born in Novelda, Óscar Navarro (1981) enjoys a recognized prestige, backed by numerous awards and distinctions. After finishing his musical studies in Valencia, he was selected by the prestigious University of Southern California to specialize in Film and TV Composition, working under the tutelage of great professionals in the Film industry such as Joel McNeely, Pete Anthony, Michael Giacchino , or Christopher Young, having collaborated with the latter as an orchestrator of his music to be performed in concert.

"The main characteristic of the work is the variety in the musical discourse, from my point of view, every day more necessary to captivate the attention and create a direct connection with the listener, sending him the musical message led by the solo instrument, the horn. Mystery, anger, complicity, humor or passion are part of the main aesthetic ingredients used in this new concert, whose purpose is to immerse the listener in the work through a fusion of styles and a varied harmonic language. The orchestration is very colorful, always leaving the necessary space for the soloist to be the central axis of the work, which maintains a constant dialogue with the rest of the Symphony Orchestra throughout the work."

The work begins with a mysterious introduction. Over the soft support of the strings, the piccolo plays some bird-like motifs. The horn soloist comes majestically, presenting an also mysterious theme. The whole orchestra explodes on a loud and dissonant climax, giving way to the next section.

The second section is a shostakovichian march presented by the orchestra. The soloist comes then, sharing a bitter dialogue with the orchestra. A calmer interlude comes, with the soloist in dialogue with the percussion instruments. The March is imposed again in a new outburst. After a brief solo of the soloist the march is imposed again, before adding musical elements of the first section, dying slowly with a new horn's solo in a transition to the third section.

The third sections (a kind of scherzo) begins with new percussive effects. The music takes a parodic fast pace (now more akin to film music). The soloist establishes new dialogues, bursting out along with the orchestra in the loud climaxes. The music slows down, referencing too both previous sections before giving way to the next section.

The fourth section is the slow part of the work. The orchestra presents a broad lyrical theme, over which the soloist ornamentates with the support of the orchestra. The music adquires a more intimate and brilliant tone. A music akin to the typical tonal lyricism of TV and film music. Then whole orchestra culminates on a passionate climax before slowly going decrescendo, ending like the broad, lyrical beginning of the section, giving way to the final one.

The fifth section starts with blows the temple block. Excited anticipations of the orchestra comes before presenting a bright and joyous theme. The soloist resumes the dialogues with the orchestra, with several climaxes on the way. In the final part we hear material from the previous sections being presented again, leading the way to a massive and brilliant coda.

Picture: Photograph of Óscar Navarro.

[marcellodantedealmeidanune]

Muito bom concerto e um trompista show de bola. Parabéns Navarro. Gostei muito!!!!

[marcellodantedealmeidanune]

O largo desse concerto é das coisas mais idílicas que já ouvi!!!

[DavidA-psqr]

Excellent composition. This composer has a very bright future, loved the orchestration. Really enjoyed this.

[pabloklanian]

Sin duda, que es un compositor comercial. Creer que es un gran compositor es algo tonto y ridículo. Además es una música llena de clichés.