(1949 - 2011)
Daniel Catán, whose sudden death in April 2011 shocked the opera world, composed in a lyrical, romantic style that lends itself particularly well to the human voice. Lush orchestrations reminiscent of Debussy and Strauss along with Latin American instruments and rhythms are regularly heard in his music. His opera Florencia en el Amazonas has the distinction of being the first opera in Spanish commissioned by a major American company. The success of this opera led to the commission of Salsipuedes for Houston Grand Opera. Born in Mexico, Catán studied philosophy at the University of Sussex in England before enrolling in Princeton as a PhD student in composition under the tuition of Milton Babbitt, James Randall and Benjamin Boretz.
Daniel Catán Composition Timpani and Percussion Requirements
A Fold in Time (En un Doblez del Tiempo)
Timpani + 2 percussion + celeste
Orchestral bass drum, xylophone, celeste
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Caribbean Airs
Timpani + 5 percussion
Solo marimba, solo steel pans, 3 solo percussion
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Florencia en el Amazonas
Timpani + 3 percussion
Marimba, steel pan, djembe, tambourine, orchestral bass drum, snare drum, suspended cymbal, clash cymbals, gong, tubular bells, wind machine
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Florencia Suite
Timpani + 2 percussion
Orchestral bass drum, clash cymbals, djembe, gong, snare drum, steel pan, suspended cymbal, tambourine, tubular bells
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Rappaccinis Daughter
Timpani + 2 percussion + celeste
Xylophone, orchestral bass drum, tam tam, 2 octaves crotales, tubular bells, clash cymbals, suspended cymbal, snare drum, celeste
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Salsipuedes
Timpani + 3 percussion + 4 on stage percussion
Marimba, suspended cymbal, clash cymbals, military drum, orchestral bass drum, maracas, guiro, castanets, steel drum, djun djun, gong
On stage - guiro or shekere, bongos, 3 congas, palitos
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