Leyenda del Quetzal
y la Serpiente
SCORE
For orchestra
by José Luis Elizondo
Instrumentation for
Leyenda del Quetzal y la Serpiente
Duration: Approximately 5 minutesRecommended string size: 10-8-6-6-4
Instrumentation
1 Piccolo Timpani: A, D2 Flutes2 Oboes Percussion I2 Clarinets in Bb Güiro (made of wood, not metal)1 Bassoon Snare Drum1 Horn in F Bongos (play with hands)Violins I Bass DrumViolins IIViolas Percussion IICellos ClavesBasses Cabasa
Rain Stick
Expressions used in the score for
Leyenda del Quetzal y la Serpiente
GERMAN CZECH
Leyenda del Quetzal y laSerpiente
Die Legende vom heiligenQuetzal-Vogel und derSchlange
Legenda o ptákuQuetzalu a hadovi
always in the background immer im Hintergrund vždy v pozadíbirdlike wie ein Vogel jako ptákbold kräftig silnýbright hell jasnýbroad voller Klang, großzügig žřetelný constrained verhalten omezenýfirm but noble bestimmt und sanft rozhodný ale mírnýfocused fokussiert soustředit se gentle sanft mírnyheroic heroisch heroickyhypnotic hypnotisch hypnotickýin the background im Hintergrund v pozadílight leicht lehkýlike an incantation wie eine Beschwörung jako zaklínadlolyrical lyrisch lyrickýmysterious mysteriös záhadnýnoble sanft mírny, ušlechtilýprecise präzise přesný reserved zurückhaltend zdrženlivýrhapsodic rhapsodisch rapsodickýrhythmic rhỵthmisch rytmickýritualistic ritualisiert, rituell rituálnístately stattlich majestátně steady konstant konstantnístrong stark silnýwith authority mit Authorität s autoritouwith energy kraftvoll energicky
Leyenda del Quetzal y la Serpiente
Legend of the sacred Quetzal bird and the snake
Program Notes
Elements of Mexican folklore have inspired most of José Elizondo’s musical output. In Leyenda delQuetzal y la Serpiente, he wanted to explore an imaginary world evocative of the Aztec myths andstories he read as a child. Mexican painter Fedra González created a watercolor image for him,featuring an emerald green bird and a coiled snake, illustrating the Aztec legend of the sacred Quetzalbird and the snake. The word Quetzal literally means “precious feather” and the Quetzal bird isassociated with different divinities in Aztec mythology, as well as with the concepts of rebirth,transformation, hope and magic. Its song was ingeniously embedded as an acoustic effect in severalAztec and Mayan pyramids.
Leyenda del Quetzal y la Serpiente is not intended to be a programmatic piece. There is no narrationof a story. Instead, Elizondo endeavors to express in it concepts and images that he associates withthe two animal protagonists of the story. For example, an exotic bird-like melody emerges time andtime again in the upper woodwinds, floating above continually transforming orchestral textures.Leyenda’s cyclical structure provides the composition with a distinctive ritualistic flavor. It alsoprojects a sinuous shape into the slithering wanderings of the pizzicato strings and lower woodwinds,evocative of the snake.
Leyenda del Quetzal y la Serpiente was commissioned by Sergio Buslje, music director of the Pan-American Symphony Orchestra. The premiere of the work was sponsored by a grant of the US-MexicoFund for Culture (Fideicomiso para la Cultura Mexico-EUA), the Humanities Council of Washington DC,and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. The Pan-American Symphony Orchestra gave theworld premiere performance of this work on June 1st, 2002 at 8pm at the Festival “Mexican Journeys:A Celebration of Mexican Symphonic Music”.
Piccolo
Timpani
Percussion II
ritualistic, steady, hypnotic
birdlike, focused, like an incantation
Moderato
(claves)
preciseClaves
Piccolo
Timpani
Perc. II
7
7
(claves)
Piccolo
Flute I & II
Oboe I & II
Bassoon
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
13
13
(güiro)
(claves)
focused, like an incantation
focused, like an incantation
focused, like an incantation
A
A
a 2
a 2
constrained, noble
Güiro
Score p.1
by José L. Elizondo
Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteScore
Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake
Flute I & II
Oboe I & II
B Clar. I & II
Bassoon
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
21
21
focused, like an incantation
(güiro)
(claves)
Clarinet I
Flute I & II
Oboe I & II
B Clar. I & II
Bassoon
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
27
27
(güiro)
(claves)
Oboe I
to snare drum
Score p.2
Flute I & II
Oboe I & II
B Clar. I & II
Bassoon
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
33
33
(snare drum)
(claves)
light
light, reserved
B
B
Snare Drum steady, gentle, always in the background
light
Flute I & II
Oboe I & II
B Clar. I & II
Bassoon
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
39
39
(snare drum)
(claves)
Score p.3
Flute I & II
Oboe I & II
B Clar. I & II
Bassoon
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
44
44
(snare drum)
(claves)
Oboe I
Clarinet I
Piccolo
Flute I & II
Oboe I & II
B Clar. I & II
Bassoon
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
50
50
more rhapsodic
C
C
(snare drum)
(claves)
Score p.4
Piccolo
Flute I & II
Oboe I & II
B Clar. I & II
Bassoon
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
56
56
(snare drum)
(claves)
Piccolo
Flute I & II
Oboe I & II
B Clar. I & II
Bassoon
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
61
61
(snare drum)
(claves)
Score p.5
Piccolo
Flute I & II
Oboe I & II
B Clar. I & II
Bassoon
Horn in F
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Cello
Bass
65
65
65
65
pizzicato
(bongos)
(cabasa)
D
Oboe I
Clarinet I
heroic, noble
precise, firm but noble
precise
big, broad
precise, rhythmic, mysterious, ritualistic
precise, rhythmic, mysterious, ritualistic
D
D
pizzicato
Bongos
Cabasa
big, broad
big, broad
divisi
divisi
clear, engaged, inquisitive
precise, hocketting with oboestaccatissimo
precise, hocketting with clarinet
staccatissimo
Score p.6
Piccolo
Flute I & II
Oboe I & II
B Clar. I & II
Bassoon
Horn in F
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Cello
Bass
71
71
71
71
(bongos)
(cabasa)
unisoni
divisi
unisoni
unisoni
divisi
Score p.7
Piccolo
Flute I & II
Oboe I & II
B Clar. I & II
Bassoon
Horn in F
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Cello
Bass
77
77
77
77
noble, with authority
noble, with authority
noble, with authority
(bongos)
(cabasa)
unisoni
Score p.8
Piccolo
Flute I & II
Oboe I & II
B Clar. I & II
Bassoon
Horn in F
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Cello
Bass
83
83
83
83
(bongos)
(cabasa)
E
E
E
Score p.9
Piccolo
Flute I & II
Oboe I & II
B Clar. I & II
Bassoon
Horn in F
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Cello
Bass
89
89
89
89
(bongos)
(cabasa)
Score p.10
Piccolo
Flute I & II
Oboe I & II
B Clar. I & II
Bassoon
Horn in F
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Cello
Bass
95
95
95
95
(bongos)
Clarinet I
Score p.11
Piccolo
Flute I & II
Oboe I & II
B Clar. I & II
Bassoon
Horn in F
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Cello
Bass
100
100
100
100
Oboe I
to bass drum
ritualistic, steady, focused, stately
ritualistic, steady, focused, stately
marcato, noble
marcato, noble
marcato, noble
F
F
F
to rain stick
Bass Drum
more lyrical and noble
Oboe I
Score p.12
Piccolo
Flute I & II
Oboe I & II
B Clar. I & II
Bassoon
Horn in F
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Cello
Bass
106
106
106
106
(rain stick)
Rain Stick
Flute I
divisi
Score p.13
Piccolo
Flute I & II
Oboe I & II
B Clar. I & II
Bassoon
Horn in F
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Cello
Bass
112
112
112
112
big, bold, with energy
bold, with energy
bold, with energy
(bass drum)
(rain stick)
Clarinet I
crescendo
crescendo
crescendo
crescendo
crescendo
crescendo
crescendo
crescendo
crescendo
a 2
unisoni
Oboe I
Score p.14
Piccolo
Flute I & II
Oboe I & II
B Clar. I & II
Bassoon
Horn in F
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Cello
Bass
118
118
118
118
divisi
(bass drum)
(rain stick)
arco
divisi
divisi
arco
Score p.15
birdlike, focused, like an incantation
Moderato
6
11
1717
A
34 16
B
50 16
C
66
D
clear, engaged, inquisitive
72
77 6
83
E
89
95
975
F
Piccolo p.1
by José L. Elizondo
Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpientePiccoloLegend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake
104
110
114 3
118
Piccolo p.2
16
Moderato
focused, like an incantation
A
21
26
28 3
34
B
39
45
50
more rhapsodicC
54
Flute I p.1
by José L. Elizondo
Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteFlute I Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake
58
62
66
D 6716
E
88
94
99
F
1044
112
crescendo
118
Flute I p.2
16
Moderato
A
focused, like an incantation
21
26
28 3
34
B
39
45
50
more rhapsodicC
54
Flute II p.1
by José L. Elizondo
Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteFlute II Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake
58
62
66
D67
16
E
88
94
99
F
1044
112
crescendo
118
Flute II p.2
16
Moderato
focused, like an incantation
A
20
23 5
28
32
B
light
37
42
48
C
54
60
Oboe I p.1
by José L. Elizondo
Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteOboe ILegend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake
65
D3
staccatissimo
71
77
83
E
88
94
100
F
106
112
crescendo
118
Oboe I p.2
16
Moderato
focused, like an incantation
A
20
23 11
34
B
light
39
445
49
C
54
60
664
D
staccatissimo
75
Oboe II p.1
by José L. Elizondo
Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteOboe IILegend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake
81
E
87
93
99
101 13
F
114
1163
Oboe II p.2
16
Moderato 17
4
A
focused, like an incantation
23
283
34
lightB
39
43
47
C
51 4
58
Clarinet I in Bb p.1
by José L. Elizondo
Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteClarinet I in Bb
Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake
62
D
68
precise, hocketting with oboestaccatissimo
73
78
83
E
89
95
101
F more lyrical and noble
109
117
crescendo
Clarinet I in Bb p.2
16
Moderato 17
17
A
light
B
34
36
42
48
C 514
55
59
633
D
precise, hocketting with oboestaccatissimo
70
Clarinet II in Bb p.1
by José L. Elizondo
Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteClarinet II in Bb
Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake
75
80
E
85
90
95
96
6
F more lyrical and noble
105
112
114 3
crescendo
118
Clarinet II in Bb p.2
16
Moderato
focused, like an incantationA
20
24
28
32
light, reserved
B
38
44
50
C
Bassoon p.1
by José L. Elizondo
Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteBassoon
Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake
56
3
63
D16
83
E
90
97
F
103
16
Bassoon p.2
16
Moderato 17 17
A
34 16
B
50 16
C
66
heroic, nobleD
71
76
81
E
87
93
97
5
1024
F
110
1143
117
by José L. Elizondo
Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteHorn in F
Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake
ritualistic, steady, hypnotic
Moderato
TIMPANI (D, A)
6
11
16
A
21
26
31
B
36
41
Timpani p.1
by José L. Elizondo
Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteTimpani
Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake
46
C
51
56
61
66
D67 16 83 17
E
102
ritualistic, steady, focused, statelyF
108
114
crescendo
120
Timpani p.2
Timpani
Percussion I
Percussion II
ritualistic, steady, hypnotic
Moderato
TIMPANI (D, A)
(güiro)
(claves)
PERCUSSION I
Güiro (made of wood)Snare DrumBongos (play with hands)Bass Drum
PERCUSSION II
ClavesCabasaRain Stick
preciseClaves
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
7
(güiro)
(claves)
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
13
(güiro)
(claves)
A
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
19
constrained, noble
Güiro
(güiro)
(claves)
Percussion p.1
by José L. Elizondo
Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpientePercussion
Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
25
(güiro)
(claves)
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
31
to snare drum
(snare drum)
(claves)
B
Snare Drumsteady, gentle, always in the background
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
37
(snare drum)
(claves)
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
43
(snare drum)
(claves)
Percussion p.2
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
49
(snare drum)
(claves)
C
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
55
(snare drum)
(claves)
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
61
(snare drum)
(claves)
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
66
precise, firm but noble
precise
D
Bongos
Cabasa(bongos)
(cabasa)
Percussion p.3
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
72
(bongos)
(cabasa)
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
78
(bongos)
(cabasa)
E
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
84
(bongos)
(cabasa)
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
90
(bongos)
(cabasa)
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
96
(bongos)
(cabasa)
to bass drum
Percussion p.4
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
102
ritualistic, steady, focused, stately
ritualistic, steady, focused, stately
F
to rain stick
Bass Drum
(bass drum)
(cabasa)
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
108
(bass drum)
(rain stick)
Rain Stick
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
114
(bass drum)
(rain stick)
crescendo
crescendo
Timpani
Perc. I
Perc. II
120
(bass drum)
Percussion p.5
18
Moderato
INSTRUMENTS:
Güiro (made of wood)Snare DrumBongos (play with hands)Bass Drum
constrained, noble
Güiro
24
26 3
31 3
to snare drum
34
B
Snare Drumsteady, gentle, always in the background
40
46
C
52
57
63
precise, firm but nobleD Bongos
69
Percussion I p.1
by José L. Elizondo
Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpientePercussion I
Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake
75
81
E
87
93
99
to bass drum
ritualistic, steady, focused, stately
F
Bass Drum
105
112
crescendo
118
Percussion I p.2
4
Moderato
preciseClaves
10
16
A
22
28
34
B
40
46
C
52
57
Percussion II p.1
by José L. Elizondo
Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpientePercussion II
Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake
63
preciseD Cabasa
69
74
79
83
E
88
93
98
102
F
to rain stick 103 7
Rain Stick
114
120 4
Percussion II p.2
16
Moderato
17 17
A
34 16
B
50 16
C
66
big, broaddivisiD
72
unisoni
77
noble, with authority
81
E
87
93
99
marcato, nobleF
by José L. Elizondo
Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteViolin ILegend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake
105
111
divisi
big, bold, with energy
crescendo
117 unisoni
divisi
16
Moderato 17 17
A
34 16
B
50 16
C
66
D
big, broaddivisi
72
unisoni
77
noble, with authority
81
E
87
93
99
marcato, nobleF
Violin II p.1
by José L. Elizondo
Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteViolin IILegend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake
106
112
bold, with energy
crescendo
118
divisi
Violin II p.2
16
Moderato
17 17
A
34 16
B
50 16
C
66
D big, broad
72
divisi
unisoni
divisi
77
noble, with authorityunisoni
81
E
87
93
99
marcato, nobleF
105
Viola p.1
by José L. Elizondo
Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteViolaLegend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake
111
bold, with energy
crescendo
117
divisi
Viola p.2
16
Moderato
17 17
A
34 16
B
50 16
C
66
precise, rhythmic, mysterious, ritualistic
D
pizzicato
71
76
81
E
87
93
99
F
105
Cello p.1
by José L. Elizondo
Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteCelloLegend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake
110
115
crescendo
120
arco
Cello p.2
16
Moderato 17 17
A
34 16
B
50 15
C
65
pizzicato
precise, rhythmic, mysterious, ritualisticD
69
73
77
81
E
87
93
99
F
105
Bass p.1
by José L. Elizondo
Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteBassLegend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake
110
115
arco
120
Bass p.2
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