br[asas] N.2 (2017) - "O Vento" - alto flute solo

Winner of the 1st Prize in the 4th Composition Competition of the Academia de Flautas de Verão – Porto, Portugal.

Premiered on July 29, 2017, at the Helena Sá e Costa Theater, at ESMAE – Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espetáculo do Porto, performed by flutist Stephanie Wagner.

Composed as part of the br[asas] cycle for solo instruments, br[asas] No. 2 belongs to a broader set of works under the title “br[asas].” The title itself refers to “br” as an abbreviation for Brazil, while the word “asas” (wings), placed within brackets, alludes artistically to the idea of freedom—thus subtly suggesting the meaning “Wings of Brazil.” Each piece in the cycle draws inspiration from other forms of Brazilian artistic expression, such as poetry, painting, literature, and dance, seeking to “illustrate” these works through sound.

br[asas] No. 2 is inspired by the poem “O Vento” by the Brazilian poet Cecília Meireles. Its musical language aims to evoke a melodic contour that reflects aspects of the poem’s verses. The piece is structured around “central notes” from which, at different moments, various expressive musical branches emerge, creating a sense of continuity and coherence in the musical discourse—much like the poem’s own flow and expressive progression for the reader.

Although the musical material is relatively simple, it appears, develops, and gradually fades away, mirroring the nature of the wind. This is represented through techniques such as “vibrati smorzati,” embouchure glissandi, an intervallic profile characterized by wide, repetitive leaps, and a calm ending that evokes an almost inert depiction of the wind’s dissipation.

br[asas] No. 2 was premiered at the Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espetáculo (ESMAE) of the Instituto Politécnico do Porto, where it was awarded first prize in the 2017 composition competition for flute organized by the Academia de Flautas de Verão.