A requiem for miners
To celebrate its 35th anniversary, Pan-Verlag is performing a special work from its program: the Bolivian Requiem.
Juan Arnez (*1950) experienced the social ills of his homeland first-hand as a parentless street child. He later learned to play the panpipe and became an author, composer, musician and singer. He joined two other musicians and founded the group Los Kusis de Bolivia. The trio became extremely successful, receiving commissions for radio broadcasts, television appearances, theater performances and recordings and taking part in renowned festivals. Through concerts and the sale of recordings, Arnez helped to finance the construction of a school and a mothers' center.
Arnez has composed numerous pieces with the aim of conveying the cultural tradition of his home country. The instrumental line-up of the Requiems is diverse: six panpipes, accordion, three quenas, charango, violin, guitar, double bass and percussion instruments such as maracas, glockenspiel, rainstick, bongos, triangle, bombo and drum. In his instructions, the composer points out deviating possibilities. It was originally written for seven musicians, five soloists and a seven-part choir. The new version consists of a group of singers with two sopranos, an alto, a tenor, a baritone, a mixed choir and a children's choir.
The "Mass for a Miner" is in ten parts and formally follows the Latin Ordinary of the Catholic Church. Interspersed after the Sanctus is a Te Deum as Lacrimosa ll. However, it is not a requiem in the usual style. It is a cry for help against social injustice, which is still the order of the day in many countries around the world. With the Bolivian Requiem, Juan Arnez stands up for the miners who suffer from exploitation. It is a special merit of the Pan publishing house to perform this work as an anniversary gift.
Under the direction of Stefan Ruppen, the work will be performed on Sunday, November 23rdin the Kollegiumskirche Brig, on Wednesday, November 26thin Trogen and finally at the Thursday, November 27performed in the French church in Bern.
> www.spirit-singers.ch
Juan Arnez, Bolivian Requiem, Misterium del socavon, for soli, mixed choir and instruments, choral score, pan 1203A, € 25.00, Pan-Verlag, Basel 2014
