Song for Timisoara
was inspired by the lingering memories of my 1997 visit to Romania, particularly
those of Timisoara's Metropolitan Cathedral. It was on the steps of this building
that the singing of children triggered the events that led to the 1989 revolution.
The piece opens with a mournful lament highlighted by inflections reminiscent
of traditional singing styles. A fanfare figure then announces a bolder
spirit, but it quickly dissolves into brief question-like phrases that echo
through the void. After a climactic episode, a chorale texture marked religioso
brings the piece to a close.
Song for Timisoara was recorded by clarinetist Emil Sein on the
Capstone Records compact disc Spirals of Time (CPS-8668). In the
spring 2000 issue of the New Music Connoisseur, David Cleary writes:
"Of the five solo clarinet pieces here, three make
liberal use of extended techniques. Carlos Delgado's Song for Timisoara
is the most intriguing of these, displaying a capable sense of line and
eloquently introspective feel; its periodic use of tape delay is effective
and imparts uniqueness".