Alyssa Mercedes Mena's El Ajiaco is a roughly five-minute work for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, and bassoon that celebrates musical connections between Cuba, Mexico, and Colombia. Its title refers to a soup whose ingredients vary across Latin America, an image the composer uses for the meeting of different cultural traditions.
The piece draws inspiration from the Cuban son Chan Chan, the Mexican song La Llorona, and the Colombian cumbia La Cumbia Sampuesana. Rather than arranging these songs directly, Mena creates original music that recalls their gestures and atmosphere. Changing meters, layered rhythms, and shifting instrumental textures keep the ensemble active, with each player moving between featured lines and rhythmic support. The work builds toward a bright, celebratory conclusion.
Co-commissioned by Quinteto Sol and Sugar Hill Salon, El Ajiaco is listed by Coleman Page for advanced players. Its rhythmic interplay makes it a choice for an experienced woodwind quintet seeking a compact contemporary work with contrasting colors and a strong connection to Latin American musical traditions.
Click here to hear an audio excerpt.
Alyssa Mercedes Mena's El Ajiaco is a roughly five-minute work for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, and bassoon that celebrates musical connections between Cuba, Mexico, and Colombia. Its title refers to a soup whose ingredients vary across Latin America, an image the composer uses for the meeting of different cultural traditions.
The piece draws inspiration from the Cuban son Chan Chan, the Mexican song La Llorona, and the Colombian cumbia La Cumbia Sampuesana. Rather than arranging these songs directly, Mena creates original music that recalls their gestures and atmosphere. Changing meters, layered rhythms, and shifting instrumental textures keep the ensemble active, with each player moving between featured lines and rhythmic support. The work builds toward a bright, celebratory conclusion.
Co-commissioned by Quinteto Sol and Sugar Hill Salon, El Ajiaco is listed by Coleman Page for advanced players. Its rhythmic interplay makes it a choice for an experienced woodwind quintet seeking a compact contemporary work with contrasting colors and a strong connection to Latin American musical traditions.
Click here to hear an audio excerpt.