Leyenda del Quetzal

y la Serpiente

SCORE

For orchestra

by José Luis Elizondo

Instrumentation for

Leyenda del Quetzal y la Serpiente

Duration: Approximately 5 minutesRecommended string size: 10-8-6-6-4

Instrumentation

1 Piccolo Timpani: A, D2 Flutes2 Oboes Percussion I2 Clarinets in Bb Güiro (made of wood, not metal)1 Bassoon Snare Drum1 Horn in F Bongos (play with hands)Violins I Bass DrumViolins IIViolas Percussion IICellos ClavesBasses Cabasa

Rain Stick

Expressions used in the score for

Leyenda del Quetzal y la Serpiente

GERMAN CZECH

Leyenda del Quetzal y laSerpiente

Die Legende vom heiligenQuetzal-Vogel und derSchlange

Legenda o ptákuQuetzalu a hadovi

always in the background immer im Hintergrund vždy v pozadíbirdlike wie ein Vogel jako ptákbold kräftig silnýbright hell jasnýbroad voller Klang, großzügig žřetelný constrained verhalten omezenýfirm but noble bestimmt und sanft rozhodný ale mírnýfocused fokussiert soustředit se gentle sanft mírnyheroic heroisch heroickyhypnotic hypnotisch hypnotickýin the background im Hintergrund v pozadílight leicht lehkýlike an incantation wie eine Beschwörung jako zaklínadlolyrical lyrisch lyrickýmysterious mysteriös záhadnýnoble sanft mírny, ušlechtilýprecise präzise přesný reserved zurückhaltend zdrženlivýrhapsodic rhapsodisch rapsodickýrhythmic rhỵthmisch rytmickýritualistic ritualisiert, rituell rituálnístately stattlich majestátně steady konstant konstantnístrong stark silnýwith authority mit Authorität s autoritouwith energy kraftvoll energicky

Leyenda del Quetzal y la Serpiente

Legend of the sacred Quetzal bird and the snake

Program Notes

Elements of Mexican folklore have inspired most of José Elizondo’s musical output. In Leyenda delQuetzal y la Serpiente, he wanted to explore an imaginary world evocative of the Aztec myths andstories he read as a child. Mexican painter Fedra González created a watercolor image for him,featuring an emerald green bird and a coiled snake, illustrating the Aztec legend of the sacred Quetzalbird and the snake. The word Quetzal literally means “precious feather” and the Quetzal bird isassociated with different divinities in Aztec mythology, as well as with the concepts of rebirth,transformation, hope and magic. Its song was ingeniously embedded as an acoustic effect in severalAztec and Mayan pyramids.

Leyenda del Quetzal y la Serpiente is not intended to be a programmatic piece. There is no narrationof a story. Instead, Elizondo endeavors to express in it concepts and images that he associates withthe two animal protagonists of the story. For example, an exotic bird-like melody emerges time andtime again in the upper woodwinds, floating above continually transforming orchestral textures.Leyenda’s cyclical structure provides the composition with a distinctive ritualistic flavor. It alsoprojects a sinuous shape into the slithering wanderings of the pizzicato strings and lower woodwinds,evocative of the snake.

Leyenda del Quetzal y la Serpiente was commissioned by Sergio Buslje, music director of the Pan-American Symphony Orchestra. The premiere of the work was sponsored by a grant of the US-MexicoFund for Culture (Fideicomiso para la Cultura Mexico-EUA), the Humanities Council of Washington DC,and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. The Pan-American Symphony Orchestra gave theworld premiere performance of this work on June 1st, 2002 at 8pm at the Festival “Mexican Journeys:A Celebration of Mexican Symphonic Music”.

Piccolo

Timpani

Percussion II

ritualistic, steady, hypnotic

birdlike, focused, like an incantation

Moderato

(claves)

preciseClaves

Piccolo

Timpani

Perc. II

7

7

(claves)

Piccolo

Flute I & II

Oboe I & II

Bassoon

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

13

13

(güiro)

(claves)

focused, like an incantation

focused, like an incantation

focused, like an incantation

A

A

a 2

a 2

constrained, noble

Güiro

Score p.1

by José L. Elizondo

Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteScore

Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake

Flute I & II

Oboe I & II

B Clar. I & II

Bassoon

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

21

21

focused, like an incantation

(güiro)

(claves)

Clarinet I

Flute I & II

Oboe I & II

B Clar. I & II

Bassoon

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

27

27

(güiro)

(claves)

Oboe I

to snare drum

Score p.2

Flute I & II

Oboe I & II

B Clar. I & II

Bassoon

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

33

33

(snare drum)

(claves)

light

light, reserved

B

B

Snare Drum steady, gentle, always in the background

light

Flute I & II

Oboe I & II

B Clar. I & II

Bassoon

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

39

39

(snare drum)

(claves)

Score p.3

Flute I & II

Oboe I & II

B Clar. I & II

Bassoon

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

44

44

(snare drum)

(claves)

Oboe I

Clarinet I

Piccolo

Flute I & II

Oboe I & II

B Clar. I & II

Bassoon

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

50

50

more rhapsodic

C

C

(snare drum)

(claves)

Score p.4

Piccolo

Flute I & II

Oboe I & II

B Clar. I & II

Bassoon

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

56

56

(snare drum)

(claves)

Piccolo

Flute I & II

Oboe I & II

B Clar. I & II

Bassoon

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

61

61

(snare drum)

(claves)

Score p.5

Piccolo

Flute I & II

Oboe I & II

B Clar. I & II

Bassoon

Horn in F

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

Violin I

Violin II

Viola

Cello

Bass

65

65

65

65

pizzicato

(bongos)

(cabasa)

D

Oboe I

Clarinet I

heroic, noble

precise, firm but noble

precise

big, broad

precise, rhythmic, mysterious, ritualistic

precise, rhythmic, mysterious, ritualistic

D

D

pizzicato

Bongos

Cabasa

big, broad

big, broad

divisi

divisi

clear, engaged, inquisitive

precise, hocketting with oboestaccatissimo

precise, hocketting with clarinet

staccatissimo

Score p.6

Piccolo

Flute I & II

Oboe I & II

B Clar. I & II

Bassoon

Horn in F

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

Violin I

Violin II

Viola

Cello

Bass

71

71

71

71

(bongos)

(cabasa)

unisoni

divisi

unisoni

unisoni

divisi

Score p.7

Piccolo

Flute I & II

Oboe I & II

B Clar. I & II

Bassoon

Horn in F

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

Violin I

Violin II

Viola

Cello

Bass

77

77

77

77

noble, with authority

noble, with authority

noble, with authority

(bongos)

(cabasa)

unisoni

Score p.8

Piccolo

Flute I & II

Oboe I & II

B Clar. I & II

Bassoon

Horn in F

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

Violin I

Violin II

Viola

Cello

Bass

83

83

83

83

(bongos)

(cabasa)

E

E

E

Score p.9

Piccolo

Flute I & II

Oboe I & II

B Clar. I & II

Bassoon

Horn in F

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

Violin I

Violin II

Viola

Cello

Bass

89

89

89

89

(bongos)

(cabasa)

Score p.10

Piccolo

Flute I & II

Oboe I & II

B Clar. I & II

Bassoon

Horn in F

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

Violin I

Violin II

Viola

Cello

Bass

95

95

95

95

(bongos)

Clarinet I

Score p.11

Piccolo

Flute I & II

Oboe I & II

B Clar. I & II

Bassoon

Horn in F

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

Violin I

Violin II

Viola

Cello

Bass

100

100

100

100

Oboe I

to bass drum

ritualistic, steady, focused, stately

ritualistic, steady, focused, stately

marcato, noble

marcato, noble

marcato, noble

F

F

F

to rain stick

Bass Drum

more lyrical and noble

Oboe I

Score p.12

Piccolo

Flute I & II

Oboe I & II

B Clar. I & II

Bassoon

Horn in F

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

Violin I

Violin II

Viola

Cello

Bass

106

106

106

106

(rain stick)

Rain Stick

Flute I

divisi

Score p.13

Piccolo

Flute I & II

Oboe I & II

B Clar. I & II

Bassoon

Horn in F

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

Violin I

Violin II

Viola

Cello

Bass

112

112

112

112

big, bold, with energy

bold, with energy

bold, with energy

(bass drum)

(rain stick)

Clarinet I

crescendo

crescendo

crescendo

crescendo

crescendo

crescendo

crescendo

crescendo

crescendo

a 2

unisoni

Oboe I

Score p.14

Piccolo

Flute I & II

Oboe I & II

B Clar. I & II

Bassoon

Horn in F

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

Violin I

Violin II

Viola

Cello

Bass

118

118

118

118

divisi

(bass drum)

(rain stick)

arco

divisi

divisi

arco

Score p.15

birdlike, focused, like an incantation

Moderato

6

11

1717

A

34 16

B

50 16

C

66

D

clear, engaged, inquisitive

72

77 6

83

E

89

95

975

F

Piccolo p.1

by José L. Elizondo

Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpientePiccoloLegend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake

104

110

114 3

118

Piccolo p.2

16

Moderato

focused, like an incantation

A

21

26

28 3

34

B

39

45

50

more rhapsodicC

54

Flute I p.1

by José L. Elizondo

Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteFlute I Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake

58

62

66

D 6716

E

88

94

99

F

1044

112

crescendo

118

Flute I p.2

16

Moderato

A

focused, like an incantation

21

26

28 3

34

B

39

45

50

more rhapsodicC

54

Flute II p.1

by José L. Elizondo

Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteFlute II Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake

58

62

66

D67

16

E

88

94

99

F

1044

112

crescendo

118

Flute II p.2

16

Moderato

focused, like an incantation

A

20

23 5

28

32

B

light

37

42

48

C

54

60

Oboe I p.1

by José L. Elizondo

Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteOboe ILegend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake

65

D3

staccatissimo

71

77

83

E

88

94

100

F

106

112

crescendo

118

Oboe I p.2

16

Moderato

focused, like an incantation

A

20

23 11

34

B

light

39

445

49

C

54

60

664

D

staccatissimo

75

Oboe II p.1

by José L. Elizondo

Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteOboe IILegend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake

81

E

87

93

99

101 13

F

114

1163

Oboe II p.2

16

Moderato 17

4

A

focused, like an incantation

23

283

34

lightB

39

43

47

C

51 4

58

Clarinet I in Bb p.1

by José L. Elizondo

Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteClarinet I in Bb

Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake

62

D

68

precise, hocketting with oboestaccatissimo

73

78

83

E

89

95

101

F more lyrical and noble

109

117

crescendo

Clarinet I in Bb p.2

16

Moderato 17

17

A

light

B

34

36

42

48

C 514

55

59

633

D

precise, hocketting with oboestaccatissimo

70

Clarinet II in Bb p.1

by José L. Elizondo

Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteClarinet II in Bb

Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake

75

80

E

85

90

95

96

6

F more lyrical and noble

105

112

114 3

crescendo

118

Clarinet II in Bb p.2

16

Moderato

focused, like an incantationA

20

24

28

32

light, reserved

B

38

44

50

C

Bassoon p.1

by José L. Elizondo

Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteBassoon

Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake

56

3

63

D16

83

E

90

97

F

103

16

Bassoon p.2

16

Moderato 17 17

A

34 16

B

50 16

C

66

heroic, nobleD

71

76

81

E

87

93

97

5

1024

F

110

1143

117

by José L. Elizondo

Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteHorn in F

Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake

ritualistic, steady, hypnotic

Moderato

TIMPANI (D, A)

6

11

16

A

21

26

31

B

36

41

Timpani p.1

by José L. Elizondo

Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteTimpani

Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake

46

C

51

56

61

66

D67 16 83 17

E

102

ritualistic, steady, focused, statelyF

108

114

crescendo

120

Timpani p.2

Timpani

Percussion I

Percussion II

ritualistic, steady, hypnotic

Moderato

TIMPANI (D, A)

(güiro)

(claves)

PERCUSSION I

Güiro (made of wood)Snare DrumBongos (play with hands)Bass Drum

PERCUSSION II

ClavesCabasaRain Stick

preciseClaves

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

7

(güiro)

(claves)

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

13

(güiro)

(claves)

A

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

19

constrained, noble

Güiro

(güiro)

(claves)

Percussion p.1

by José L. Elizondo

Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpientePercussion

Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

25

(güiro)

(claves)

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

31

to snare drum

(snare drum)

(claves)

B

Snare Drumsteady, gentle, always in the background

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

37

(snare drum)

(claves)

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

43

(snare drum)

(claves)

Percussion p.2

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

49

(snare drum)

(claves)

C

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

55

(snare drum)

(claves)

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

61

(snare drum)

(claves)

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

66

precise, firm but noble

precise

D

Bongos

Cabasa(bongos)

(cabasa)

Percussion p.3

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

72

(bongos)

(cabasa)

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

78

(bongos)

(cabasa)

E

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

84

(bongos)

(cabasa)

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

90

(bongos)

(cabasa)

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

96

(bongos)

(cabasa)

to bass drum

Percussion p.4

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

102

ritualistic, steady, focused, stately

ritualistic, steady, focused, stately

F

to rain stick

Bass Drum

(bass drum)

(cabasa)

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

108

(bass drum)

(rain stick)

Rain Stick

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

114

(bass drum)

(rain stick)

crescendo

crescendo

Timpani

Perc. I

Perc. II

120

(bass drum)

Percussion p.5

18

Moderato

INSTRUMENTS:

Güiro (made of wood)Snare DrumBongos (play with hands)Bass Drum

constrained, noble

Güiro

24

26 3

31 3

to snare drum

34

B

Snare Drumsteady, gentle, always in the background

40

46

C

52

57

63

precise, firm but nobleD Bongos

69

Percussion I p.1

by José L. Elizondo

Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpientePercussion I

Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake

75

81

E

87

93

99

to bass drum

ritualistic, steady, focused, stately

F

Bass Drum

105

112

crescendo

118

Percussion I p.2

4

Moderato

preciseClaves

10

16

A

22

28

34

B

40

46

C

52

57

Percussion II p.1

by José L. Elizondo

Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpientePercussion II

Legend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake

63

preciseD Cabasa

69

74

79

83

E

88

93

98

102

F

to rain stick 103 7

Rain Stick

114

120 4

Percussion II p.2

16

Moderato

17 17

A

34 16

B

50 16

C

66

big, broaddivisiD

72

unisoni

77

noble, with authority

81

E

87

93

99

marcato, nobleF

by José L. Elizondo

Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteViolin ILegend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake

105

111

divisi

big, bold, with energy

crescendo

117 unisoni

divisi

16

Moderato 17 17

A

34 16

B

50 16

C

66

D

big, broaddivisi

72

unisoni

77

noble, with authority

81

E

87

93

99

marcato, nobleF

Violin II p.1

by José L. Elizondo

Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteViolin IILegend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake

106

112

bold, with energy

crescendo

118

divisi

Violin II p.2

16

Moderato

17 17

A

34 16

B

50 16

C

66

D big, broad

72

divisi

unisoni

divisi

77

noble, with authorityunisoni

81

E

87

93

99

marcato, nobleF

105

Viola p.1

by José L. Elizondo

Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteViolaLegend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake

111

bold, with energy

crescendo

117

divisi

Viola p.2

16

Moderato

17 17

A

34 16

B

50 16

C

66

precise, rhythmic, mysterious, ritualistic

D

pizzicato

71

76

81

E

87

93

99

F

105

Cello p.1

by José L. Elizondo

Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteCelloLegend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake

110

115

crescendo

120

arco

Cello p.2

16

Moderato 17 17

A

34 16

B

50 15

C

65

pizzicato

precise, rhythmic, mysterious, ritualisticD

69

73

77

81

E

87

93

99

F

105

Bass p.1

by José L. Elizondo

Leyenda del Quetzal y la SerpienteBassLegend Of The Sacred Quetzal Bird And The Snake

110

115

arco

120

Bass p.2