The Last Trumpet

Theme and Variations

Spicy Guacamole

Swan Song

--- Acerca de la obra (ESP)
El título de la obra toma nombre del código que emplean los trabajadores del transporte colectivo conocido como "microbús" o "pesero". A pesar de ser arcaico, este método de transporte sigue estando vigente en varias partes de la Ciudad de México. Es consabido por los usuarios del pesero que viajar de esta forma conlleva una cierta intensidad y violencia. Esto se experimenta a partir de la velocidad con la que se manejan estas unidades, pero también, a partir la persecución que se suscita entre los conductores. Manejar en la ruta implica cumplir con la carga y descarga de pasajeros en un tiempo muy reducido, lo que ocasiona carreras por la llegada a ciertos puntos importantes de recolección de sus usuarios. "Tres atrás y uno por delante" es lo que un "checador" (contador de ruta) le diría a un conductor que lleva su competencia por atrás y por delante. Así haciendo alusión al cuarteto de guitarras, esta pieza es una breve miniatura que pretende proyectar la gran intensidad que se vive al abordar microbuses destartalados, que muchas veces, al ser un espacio recurrente en la vida de sus usuarios, también induce al sueño y a la meditación de lo urbano que nos rodea.

--- About the work (ENG)
The title of the work takes its name from the code used by the collective transportation workers known as “microbús” or “pesero”. Despite being archaic, this method of transportation is still in use in various parts of Mexico City. It is well known by users of the pesero that traveling this way involves a certain intensity and violence. This is experienced from the speed with which these units are driven, but also from the chase that occurs between drivers. Driving on the route involves loading and unloading passengers in a very short time, which causes races to reach certain important collection points. “Three in the back and one in front” is what a “checador” (route counter) would say to a driver carrying his competition in the back and in front. Thus, alluding to the guitar quartet, this piece is a brief miniature that aims to project the great intensity that is experienced when boarding ramshackle minibuses, which many times, being a recurring space in the lives of its users, also induces a dream like state and meditation of the urban that surrounds us.

--- Acerca de la ejecución
Grabación de "Tres atrás y un por delante" durante el examen de titulación de licenciatura en composición musical en el cual se obtuvo mención honorífica por la Facultad de Música de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México el día 16 de febrero de 2024.

Tres atrás y uno por delante (2021), for guitar quartet

Oltre i santi, vedo - for amplified microtonal guitar quartet, 2024
performed by Aleph Guitar Quartet

Andrés Hernandez Alba
Tillmann Reinbeck
Wolfgang Sehringer
Christian Wernicke

Inspired by the intricate beauty and profound symbolism of Italian Renaissance altarpieces, "Oltre i santi, vedo" (“Beyond the saints, I see”) is a musical exploration of the dynamic interplay between foreground and background, a hallmark of this illustrious period in art history.
In Renaissance altarpieces, the saints and holy figures often command immediate attention, set against richly detailed backgrounds teeming with vibrant life, distant towns, and lush landscapes. These backgrounds are not mere backdrops; they pulse with their own stories and significance, inviting viewers to linger and discover their hidden narratives.
This guitar quartet seeks to musically embody this artistic dialectic. Throughout the piece, the roles of the foreground and background are continuously subverted and reversed. Themes and motifs that might initially seem to occupy the primary focus seamlessly give way to secondary elements that rise to prominence, creating a fluid and ever-changing sonic world.

Oltre i santi, vedo

Published by auurk ed. (Belgium).
This Spanish rumba immediately sweeps you away, transporting you to the heart of flamenco music in Andalusia in southern Spain. With its rasgueados, summery melodies, and vibrant percussion, this piece offers an exhilarating experience for both performer and audience alike. This piece is crafted for young guitar players, offering a delightful introduction to the rhythms and textures of Spanish flamenco music.

Paisaje rumbero con percusión | C. Ruebens | guitar quartet/ensemble

This Spanish rumba immediately sweeps you away, transporting you to the heart of flamenco music in Andalusia in southern Spain. With its rasgueados, summery melodies, and vibrant percussion, this piece offers an exhilarating experience for both performer and audience alike. This piece is crafted for young guitar players, offering a delightful introduction to the rhythms and textures of Spanish flamenco music. This piece will be performed by the BGF youth guitar orchestra during the Baltic Guitar Festival in Birštonas, Lithuania on June 15, 2025. Register to join: bgq.lt/festival

Score: https://new.auurk.com/book-detail/349

Paisaje rumbero con percusión | C. Ruebens | 4 guitars or guitar ensemble

written for nuntempe

dendrites in this case refers to the tree-like branching patterns of snowflakes and some crystals"


Performed and recorded at UC Davis Pitzer Hall 4-25-25

dendrites

The greenwood Tree

Portafolio of some recordings made for my own original compositions. 

Please visit youtube.com/@tobias.alvarez for recent works and www.tobiasalvarez.com for more info.

composer

phd candidate at UC Davis

More music below

His compositional research mainly ranges across chamber, acousmatic, and live electronics works. He also explores more liminal territories through sound installations, audiovisual compositions, and multimedia performances involving dance and interactive projections.

He plays piano and electroacoustic setups with a focus on free improvisation, and his music has been performed by renowned ensembles such as the Aleph Guitar Quartet and Ensemble Recherche.

Belgian guitarist, singer and composer working and living in Vilnius, Lithuania.

New tracks tagged #Guitar Quartet