Abstract
The music of Colombian-American Alba Potes is characterized by spaciousness and moments of silence to invite listeners into her introspective soundscape. The goals of this presentation are: 1. to introduce Potes’ Colombian private, yet universal, musical-emotional space through the intimate sound world of her piano music, with particular attention to her most recent piano collection, Soliloquios (2012-2018) 2. to discuss the Potes’ music as a response to Colombian social and political issues. 3. to examine Potes’ work as a Latina who found her personal voice as a composer and received artistic recognition in her homeland only when she left it. 4. to allow attendees to hear Soliloquios and excerpts from her other piano works, and ask questions about the pieces Born in Cali, Colombia in 1954, Alba Potes studied at the Antonio M. Valencia Conservatory, and the University of Valle in Cali Colombia. In 1983, she moved to the United States. She began composing in 1990, graduating with degrees from Temple University. Her music has been performed throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia. She teaches at the College Preparatory Division at Mannes School of Music-The New School. The study discusses and demonstrates how Potes’ work expresses her personal story, based on interviews with the composer. Examination of Potes’ keyboard esthetic and structure focuses on her use of registration and often spare, emotionally vulnerable piano textures as exemplified in Soliloquios. This presentation concludes with a complete performance of Soliloquios, (approximately eight minutes) demonstrating the work’s introspective, evocative immediacy.
Presenters
Shannon Wettstein SadlerAssistant Professor, Music, St. Cloud State University, Minnesota, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
The Arts in Social, Political, and Community Life
KEYWORDS
Gender, Feminist, Latina, Latin America, Hispanic, Political Art, Artistic Identity
