Commissioned by Vertixe Sonora (ES) and Ensemble New Babylon (DE), Interactions explores the idea of human interaction in a blind date and the odds of finding a connection with someone. The piece is divided in two movements: Meet-Approach and Looking-Unveiling. Also, I was very interested in exploring tension and energy that could be condensed and expressed using small intensity of dynamics that could relate to what human’s experience when being overwhelmed with feelings, but externally appear to be tranquil.

Interactions Excerpt of first mouvement - Meet - Approach.

The year of 2021 and we cannot read the title without thinking about the literal (use of a mask) and/or social (rules/exclusion measures) aspects that the COVID-19 imposed throughout the year of 2020 dragging into 2021. The physical consequences (shortness of breath, tiredness) are visible, but although the negative aspects seem to outweigh the positives, the creation of this piece was born exactly from the exploration of a closed and intimate ambience that isolation provided and where indefinite sounds can also be explored and considered as beautiful. 

Flute: Clara Saleiro
Recorded by: João Sousa - Grawa Sound Studio 2022
Commissioned by Arte no Tempo 2021 for flutist Ricardo Carvalho

We can'at Breathe

WE CANT BREATHE | Excerpts

“Uma curva francesa decide atravessar o Alentejo às escuras” is a work that resulted as a collaboration between the writer João Gesta, the artist Cristina Ataíde and myself for the XXI INTERNATIONAL BIENNIAL OF CERVEIRA ART, under Fátima Lambert’s curatorial project “From home to a World…”. The main goal was to create a chain of works with connection between them, starting with a text, then a painting/art work and finally a music composition, under this difficult circumstance that we are living now – COVID-19.
The stereo composition “A French curve decides to cross the Alentejo in the dark” was inspired by the flat and curved planes of Cristina Ataíde work, its color contrast and João Gesta’s text. Recognizable sounds are featured in this miniature, though without context we may be wondering through the composition without knowing where it is from.
Moreover, I interpreted “crossing the Alentejo in the dark” as a metaphor for a reality of misinformation/fake news that we are daily experiencing.

Uma Curva Francesa decide atravessar o Alentejo às escuras

Ground, acousmatic, quad (stereo version excerpt)

Volume I - Matéria Prima
Translated as Sonic Studies for Viola da Terra and Electronics first volume of studies exploring the basic sonic features of this instrument.
Composition: Ângela da Ponte
Viola da Terra: Ângela da Ponte
BEAST Electroacoustic Studios ©2015, UK

2. Percussivo

1. Fantasia

Maestro: José Eduardo Gomes
Orquestra: Jovem Orquestra de Famalicão
Gravação do concerto ao vivo pela Antena 2 a 3 de setembro de 2022

"Marco Polo descreve uma ponte, pedra a pedra.
- Mas qual é a pedra que sustém a ponte? – pergunta Kublai Kan.
- A ponte não é sustida por esta ou por aquela pedra – responde Marco -, mas sim pela linha do arco que elas formam.
Kublai Kan permanece silencioso, refletindo. Depois acrescenta:
- Por que me falas de pedras? É só o arco que me importa.
Polo responde:
- Sem pedras não há arco."
In, “As Cidades Invisíveis” de Italo Calvino

Sem Pedras nao ha Arco | excerpt

I Pierrot 1

II Knives Shooter 1

IV Akrobatos 1 1

III Houdini 1

Esboço #2, a commission from the Young Musicians Prize/Antena 2 for its 30th anniversary.
Interpretation: Orquestra Jovens Músicos
Conductor: Cesário Costa
(Permission from Young Musicians Prize/Antena 2)

Esboço#2 Excerpts

Work developed at Casa da Música, during the Young Composer in Residence 2011. Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música, conducted by Michael Sanderling.
Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto, Casa da Música
(Permission from Casa da Música)

La Mer Soulevée excerpt 2

Remix Ensemble, conductor: Emilio Pomarico, Casa da Música
(Permission from Casa da Música)

Kras en Momentum excerpt

Untitled#1 for bass-flute, contrabass and electronics. Concert in Mallorca by Clara Saleiro (bass-flute), Kathryn Schulmeister (contrabass) and electronics support by Ángel Faraldo
(Permission from Vertixe Sonora)

Untitled#1 | excerpt

Piece written for Remix Ensemble, conducted by Sian Edwards at Casa da Música 2019.
(Permission by Casa da Música)

Angela da Ponte

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