Instantáneas (2005-2024)
(Serie I)
for guitar

PROGRAM NOTE

The cycle Instantáneas, Series I brings together a collection of brief pieces—some as ephemeral as a breath—composed by Javier Torres Maldonado as musical gestures of homage or personal gifts for close friends or individuals who requested music for special occasions. These works are little gems that blend the intimacy of personal dedication with profound artistic elaboration, condensing entire sonic worlds into minimal formats.

I. "Sixty more!"

Composed to celebrate the 60th birthday of Alessandro Solbiati, this piece pays tribute to the composer and Torres Maldonado’s mentor at the Conservatory of Milan. With a musical language that is simple yet nuanced, the work concludes with a humorous touch: an unexpected resolution on the note D, played simultaneously across three octaves. This final gesture is a nod to the camaraderie between the two composers, contrasting entirely with the rest of the material in this miniature.

II. Azul sin dimensiones

Dedicated to guitarist Pablo Márquez, this work is notable for its lyricism, which is constructed through a rigorous structure based on the combination of two asymmetrical sequences—one of pitches, the other of rhythmic durations—functioning as talea and color. Through continuous variations that affect only the "surface" of the rhythmic model, along with unexpected timbral and dynamic contrasts, the piece achieves remarkable internal coherence, exploring an economy of elements that amplifies its expressiveness.

The title is inspired by Yves Klein’s philosophy, where he describes blue as an abstract and dimensionless idea:

"Le bleu n’a pas de dimensions. Il est hors de dimensions (...). Toutes les couleurs amènent des associations d’idées concrètes (...), tandis que le bleu rappelle tout au plus la mer et le ciel, ce qu’il y a après tout de plus abstrait dans la nature tangible et visible."

("Blue has no dimensions. It is beyond dimensions (...). All other colors bring associations with concrete ideas (...), whereas blue recalls at most the sea and the sky, which are, after all, the most abstract things in tangible and visible nature.")

This concept resonates both in the abstraction of the piece and its sonic analogy, where, despite its evident timbral variety, the whole reflects a notably "monochromatic" conception.

III. "...la lluvia allí no es más que una rosa entreabierta..."

Inspired by Seville and dedicated to Jesús Pineda Arjona, this piece employs extended techniques for guitar, exploring its spectral resonance and multidimensional timbres. The guitar is played in a cello-like position, and the use of multifonics, combined with other experimental techniques, creates an unprecedented and fascinating sound palette.

The title and poetic essence of the work are drawn from a poem by Luis Cernuda that describes the rain in Seville with delicate imagery:

"... la lluvia allí no es más que una rosa entreabierta; su niebla misma ríe, risa blanca en el viento. Su oscuridad, su luz son bellezas iguales."

("... the rain there is nothing but a half-opened rose; its very mist laughs, a white laugh in the wind. Its darkness, its light are equally beautiful.")

The piece captures this dual atmosphere, balancing the tangible and the ethereal, reflecting both Cernuda’s poetry and the spirit of Seville.

IV. Apuntes de Espira

Dedicated to Gonzalo Salazar, this piece reclaims gestural material discarded from the work Espira I, II (2005) for guitar, violin, cello, and piano. In just a few seconds, it develops a bi-gestural dialogue that suggests movement and circularity, connecting to the idea of transformation inherent in the original work. This brief "note" finds its place as a poetic and ephemeral breath within the cycle.

With Instantáneas, Serie I, Javier Torres Maldonado invites the listener to explore a world of emotions and concepts condensed into brief sonic moments. Each piece, with its unique character, highlights the connection between the personal and the universal in the composer’s musical language.

Imre Blackburn-Schneider