Joaquin M. Orellana

Joaquin M. Orellana (1933-)

Joaquin M. Orellana a Guatemalan composer who studied at the National Conservatory of Music. In 1958, Orellana won first prize in the annual Central American Science, Letters and Fine Arts Competition. He won the prize for his work "El Jardín Encantado".  He first performed his String Trio in Washington, DC in 1965. In 1970 Orellana began to experiment with flujos sonoro-sociales, soundscapes of Guatemala, within his pieces. In two of his most successful compositions: "Electroacústica" and "Imposible a la X: Historia en Redondo" (1976) he showcased these new sounds. In 1982, he used magnetic tape, two flutes and other specially created instruments to create a sound that was used in his piece: "Híbrido a Presión". Orellana constructed new instruments from the fragments of the marimba grande. The newly created instruments: ciclo-im, rastra-son and pandemarimbas, expanded the sound quality of the marimba. In his work Tzulumanachi, he uses one of these created instruments named sonarimba. He uses a mixed chorus, incorporated a narrator, several marimba-derived instruments and magnetic tape in his pieces: "Evocacion Profunda y translaciones de una marimba".

Discography of Work:

• 1958- First prize winner in the annual Central American Science, Letters and Fine Arts Competition; for “El Jardin Encantado” string trio.
• 1976- Showcased one of his sound experiments involving flujos sonoro-sociales, soundscapes of Guatemala.
• 1982- Used magnetic tape, flutes, and other specialty made instruments, to create a sound or compose a piece by the name “Hibrido a Presion”.

Bibliography:  Scruggs, T.M. (n.d.). Joaquin M. Orellana. Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. http://www.oxfordmusiconline.co
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k&pos=1&_start=1#firsthit • "The Art Music of Mexico and Guatemala." The Art Music of Mexico and Guatemala. The Art Music of Guatemala, 8 July 2011. Web. 2 Mar. 2012. http://artmusicmexicoguatemala.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/joaquin-m-orellana-november-5th-1933/.