Jay Watkins, Associate Professor and Associate Director of Bands, and Dr. Randy Lee, Assistant Professor of Trumpet, have been working with Dr. Mauricio Arias, one of the most noted composers from Colombia SCHOOL on a trumpet concerto with wind band. The resulting work, entitled "Variaciones fantásticas sobre La Guaneña" (Fantasy Variations on a Colombian Theme), will be presented as the feature work during the UF Symphnc Band concert on Thursday, April 14 in the University Auditorium at 7:30PM.
The work uses as its basis a Colombian traditional song, La Guaneña, from the Southern region of the country, about an anonymous female warrior that dates back to the 18th century. After the theme is presented, there are ten different variations, along with two cadenzas and a closing reprise of the theme. The influences of this piece range from gregorian chant to contemporary music, to Colombian traditional music, to salsa, to son montuno, and others.
Arias is currently professor of piano and composition at the National University of Colombia in Bogotá, and adjunct professor of piano at Corpas University.
