October 31st, 2009
Piece of the Month: October 2009
Ojos Brujos by Leo Brouwer
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I just played this piece at the Minnesota Guitar Society’s OpenStage. October’s theme was spooky, scary, or eerie music. I’m not sure this is any of these, but the title translates to “Witch’s Eyes”. I hope some of the enchantment comes through in my playing.
Brouwer based the music on the melody of a song by fellow Cuban composer, Gonzalo Roig:
OJOS BRUJOS
I´m mad keen to escape
from some eyes I saw yesterday
witch’s eyes [ojos brujos] which looking at me
have wanted to fascinate me
always fixed on me.
That’s why when I look at them
my emotion is so huge
as if a sea made of sapphire
snatched in a whisper
my soul and my heart.
(Translation from the website of the municipal choir of Caspe, Spain)
Lovely. I thought it was not spooky, but yearning.