Composer

:

Lou Harrison

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Quintet

Compose Date

:

May 15, 1939

First Performance

:

Aug 14, 1976

Average_duration

:

2:54

Bomba is a composition by American composer Lou Harrison, written in 1987. The piece was premiered on October 17, 1987, by the Cabrillo Music Festival Orchestra, conducted by Dennis Russell Davies. Bomba is a three-movement work for orchestra, with a total duration of approximately 20 minutes. The first movement, titled "Bomba," is a lively and rhythmic dance in 6/8 time. The music is characterized by its use of syncopated rhythms and percussion instruments, including maracas, bongos, and congas. The melody is based on a Puerto Rican folk song, which Harrison heard during a trip to the island in the 1950s. The second movement, titled "Estampie," is a slower and more contemplative piece, featuring a solo cello. The music is based on a medieval dance form, the estampie, which Harrison had studied extensively. The cello plays a mournful melody, accompanied by the orchestra, which gradually builds in intensity before subsiding into a quiet conclusion. The final movement, titled "Danza," is a fast and energetic dance in 3/4 time. The music is based on a Venezuelan folk song, which Harrison had also encountered during his travels. The orchestra plays a lively melody, punctuated by syncopated rhythms and percussion accents. The music builds to a frenzied climax before ending abruptly. Overall, Bomba is a vibrant and colorful work, showcasing Harrison's interest in world music and his unique approach to orchestration. The piece is notable for its use of percussion instruments, which play a prominent role throughout the work. The music is also characterized by its use of folk melodies and dance forms, which Harrison incorporates into his own distinctive style.

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