ENRICO CHAPELA BARBA
COMPOSER
Magnetar
Concerto for electric cello
Science fiction music, as well as literature. Not in the sense of fictional but in the sense of science fiction, a genre of fiction based on science. That is Magnetar, the concerto for electric cello and orchestra by Enrico Chapela.
Magnetar is a very important piece in Chapela's catalog because it was his first international commission for three orchestras: Los Angeles Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Orquestra Sinfónica do Estado de São Paulo.
Chapela sought out the largest magnet in the universe to base his piece on, hence the title: Magnetar. Magnetars are pulsars resulting from the implosion of a supernova that produce a large magnetic field. The composer researched and tracked down a scientist at the University of Berkeley, California, who has worked with magnetars-Johnathan Arons. “I met with him and he provided me with data from NASA spacecraft that have observed magnetar explosions; from that data I extracted the materials to compose the piece.” He adds: “I use science for fun; in that sense it is equivalent to science fiction in literature. I don't pretend to make a scientific argument, I don't argue that this is how magnetars sound".
To convert the research into musical materials, Chapela took his electric guitar, removed two strings and tuned it like a cello. "I took a whack at the materials generated from the magnetars. That's where the solo part came from, which I then orchestrated around."
The electric cello is an electromagnetic instrument, since its strings generate a magnetic field when they move, which is picked up by a pickup that converts it into an electric current. The electric cello has no soundboard, only a fingerboard and a silhouette in the shape of the outer rim. Created by Yamaha, the so-called “Silent Cello” was intended for studying without disturbing the neighbors, but later it was found that its signal could be used as an electric guitar and cellists began to take it seriously.
"In Magnetar you use electric guitar effects like wa wa, distortion, flanger, phaser, chorus. You can find influences from rock, metal, reggae, progressive rock and jazz. I like the variety of textures and colors, a consequence of the use of effects. The rock or jazz sounding passages are the result of my guitar playing".
MOV 1
MOV 2
MOV 3
Awards
August 22, 2016
Finalist work at the Young Euro Classic festival. Konzerthaus, Berlin, Germany. Bundesjugendorchester, Alondra de la Parra, Johannes Moser.
PERFORMANCES
Lugano, Switzerland. Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Alexander Vedernikov, Johannes Moser.
Schermerhorn Symphony Center, TN, USA. Nashville Symphony, Giancarlo Guerrero, Johannes Moser.
Schermerhorn Symphony Center, TN, USA. Nashville Symphony, Giancarlo Guerrero, Johannes Moser.
Brevard Music Center Orchestra, North Carolina, USA. Keith Lockhart, Johannes Moser.
Conrad Centre, Kitchener, Canada. Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Edwin Outwater, Johannes Moser.
Jack Singer Hall, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Roberto Minczuk, Johannes Moser.
Konzerthaus, Berlin, Germany. Bundesjugendorchester, Alondra de la Parra, Johannes Moser.
OFUNAM, Nezahualcóyotl Hall, Mexico City. Iván del Prado, Johannes Moser.
OFUNAM, Nezahualcóyotl Hall, Mexico City. Iván del Prado, Johannes Moser.
Porto Symphony Orchestra, National Auditorium, Madrid, Spain. Christoph Konig, Johannes Moser.
Porto Symphony Orchestra, Dlibes Auditorium, Valladolid, Spain. Christoph Konig, Johannes Moser.
Porto Symphony Orchestra, Dlibes Auditorium, Valladolid, Spain. Christoph Konig, Johannes Moser.
Porto Symphony Orchestra, Casa da Música, Porto, Portugal. Christoph Konig, Johannes Moser.
Cabrillo Festival, Santa Cruz, CA, USA. Marin Alsop, Johannes Moser.
European Premiere. Symphony Hall, Birmingham, United Kingdom. Diego Matheuz, Johannes Moser.
Claudio Santoro Auditorium, Campos do Jordão, Brazil. OSESP, Marin Alsop, Johannes Moser.
Sala São Paulo, Brazil. OSESP, Marin Alsop, Johannes Moser.
Sala São Paulo, Brazil. OSESP, Marin Alsop, Johannes Moser.
São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra, Marin Alsop, conductor, Johannes Moser, e-cello.
Davies Hall, San Francisco, CA, USA. L.A. Phil, Gustavo Dudamel, Johannes Moser.
Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, CA, USA. L.A. Phil, Gustavo Dudamel, Johannes Moser.
World Premiere. Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, CA, USA. The Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo
Dudamel, conductor, Johannes Moser, e-cello.
September 26, 2019
May 18, 2018
May 19, 2018
July 29, 2017
April 20, 2017
October 28, 2016
August 22, 2016
October 25, 2015
October 24, 2015
October 12, 2013
October 11, 2013
October 10, 2013
October 04, 2013
August 10, 2013
March 3, 2013
July 8, 2012
July 7, 2012
July 6, 2012
July 5, 2012
October 23, 2011
October 21, 2011
October 20, 2011