Symphony for String Orchestra

Composed during my undergraduate years, Symphony for String Orchestra premiered in 1992 with the Javeriana Chamber Orchestra in Bogotá, Colombia, conducted by Svetoslav Manolov.

Drawing inspiration from Stravinsky's neoclassical period—particularly Apollon Musagète and the Concerto in D—this single-movement work follows a traditional sonata form structure. A dramatic narrative frames the structure, with two contrasting themes: one angular and rhythmically unsettled, the other lyrical and cantabile. Throughout the development section, these themes engage in musical dialogue, their opposition creating tension that ultimately resolves as they reconcile during the recapitulation.

Texturally, the music alternates frequently between solo and tutti writing, in a style reminiscent of the Baroque concerto grosso. While not programmatic in a literal sense, this early work foreshadows my later exploration of symphonic poems in works such as Cascade and Bow, Red Rock, and Música Muisca. Even as a student work, the Symphony for String Orchestra reflects my enduring interest in expressing emotion through the interplay of contrasting musical ideas within a single form.

Duration: 9’30 min.