Iubilum

Iubilum was composed during the winter 1979-80 in Geneva. It was commissioned by the Directors of the Teatro Colón in celebration of the 400th Anniversary of the founding of the city of Buenos Aires. The premiere took place in Buenos Aires on the 12th of April 1980 with the orchestra of the Teatro Colón conducted by Bruno D'Astoli.

My original thought was to wrtie a Fanfare, but as the work developed in my mind I felt that a tripartite form with the duration of an overture was more appropiate. Thus Iubilum was composed, a work in three movements entitled Fanfare, Chorale, and Finale.

Fanfare is the first movement, in which the brass instruments prevail with both solemnity and joyfulness, in accordance with the spirit of the occassion.

Chorale is a slow movement, the theme of which is successively revealed by the muted strings, the brass, and the woodwinds as separate instrumental choirs that are eventually united.

The Finale, a movement of compelling rhythm, is based on a phrase that appears in 'ritornello ostinato' in various combinations of instruments, culminating in the whole orchestra bursting into the theme of "Laudate Dominum de Caelis. Alleluia."

This final sequence, together with the theme, Kechua with which Iubilum starts, symbolizes the character and eternity of the city of my birth, Buenos Aires.

Alberto Ginastera