Guerra, paz y danza de la vida

As part of its organ concert series, the Auditorio de Tenerife presents Guerra, paz y danza de la vida (War, Peace and the Dance of Life), performed by organist Sarah Kim.

The programme brings together a rich and varied selection of compositions that showcase the organ’s expressive and technical possibilities. Featuring orchestral transcriptions, Impressionist imagery, folkloric influences and dramatic narratives, the repertoire will explore a wide range of textures and emotions.

The concert opens with two movements from The Planets by Gustav Holst. Mars, the ‘Bringer of War’ advances with a relentless, asymmetrical rhythm, evoking the chaos of battle. Contrasting with this, Venus, the ‘Bringer of Peace’, offers serenity, with flowing melodies and exuberant harmonies that create an atmosphere of tranquillity.

Louis Vierne’s Clair de lune, from his 24 Fantasy Pieces, Op. 53, provides a moment of luminous and gentle elegance. Its Impressionist harmonies and undulating textures evoke the ethereal glow of the moon, setting the stage with a poetic and dreamlike atmosphere.

The mood then changes with Song of Sunshine by Alfred Hollins, a work brimming with warmth and optimism. Known for his skilful crafting of melodic lines, Hollins, a blind British organist and composer, created a work of refined simplicity that radiates joy with its fluid lines and vibrant harmonies.

Dramatic intensity returns with Camille Saint-Saëns’ Danse macabre, a vivid portrayal of skeletons dancing at midnight. The stunning organ transcription captures the supernatural ambiance of the original orchestral version with rapid chromatic passages and dynamic contrasts that enhance the work’s spectral overtones.

Next, Herbert Howells’ Master Tallis’s Testament offers a moment of introspection and beauty.  Inspired by Renaissance composer Thomas Tallis, the work unfolds with rich harmonies and subtle changes in dynamics, emotionally peaking before fading away in silent reflection.

Béla Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances injects a burst of popular energy.  Originally for piano, these six pieces capture the spirit of Romanian folkloric music with asymmetrical rhythms and modal melodies. From the enigmatic ‘Stick Dance’ to the lively ‘Fast Dance’, the organ transcription conserves the colour and rhythmic vitality of the original work.

The recital concludes with Manuel de Falla’s Ritual Fire Dance, a movement from the composer’s ballet El amor brujo.  This transcription harnesses the percussive energy and Spanish essence of the original work, delivering a dramatic and vibrant finale.

This programme demonstrates the organ’s capacity of exploration of orchestral grandeur, lyrical introspection and rhythmic vitality while offering a fascinating selection of diverse musical styles.