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I saw the Mystery Man

(2019)

for symphony orchestra

Program notes

This piece was born out of my long-lasting fascination with the cinema of David Lynch and the dark surrealism present in most of his films. Experiencing these works for the first time was a revelatory experience to me – not only was I awe-struck with his technical mastery and innovative use of the means of the medium, I also discovered how deep, immersive and intense a cinematic experience could be. I was soon sucked into a twisted and mysterious universe unlike anything I had ever seen before, that managed to, at the same time, genuinely scare me and fascinate me in a way nothing else had done before. It was a relentless and exhilarating ride, and in its own strange way, intensely moving.

How could a cinematic experience be so radically unconventional and yet provoke such visceral emotions? And why, despite how disturbing I may find them, do I keep coming back to lose myself into these beautiful nightmares? The attempt to provide some sort of answer to these questions gave as a result this piece, whose title ‘I saw the Mystery Man’ references David Lynch’s masterpiece Lost Highway (1997).

Duration: c. 8'

Instrumentation

3 Flutes
3 Oboes
2 Clarinets in B-flat

Bass clarinet in B-flat

2 Bassoons

Contrabassoon

4 Horns in F
3 Trumpets in B-flat

2 Trombones

Bass trombone

Tuba

Timpani

Percussion 1: suspended cymbal (shared with P3), triangle, glockenspiel, woodblock

Percussion 2: snare drum, guiro
Percussion 3: 2 congas, suspended cymbal (shared with P1), shaker

Piano (with shaker)

Harp

1st and 2nd violins

Violas
Violoncellos

Double Basses

Performance

9.10.2019 – RNCM Concert Hall, Manchester (UK)

        Performers: RNCM Brand New Orchestra, conducted by Riley Court-Wood

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© 2023 José del Avellanal Carreño

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