NOTES ON RECORDATIO Aurelio de la Vega’s Recordatio (“Recollection”), for soprano, wind quintet and string quintet, commissioned by North/South Consonance, New York, and dedicated to Max Lifchitz, was written in Los Angeles and Northridge, California, between August 31 and November 29 of 2011. It consists of one single movement, and exhibits the free pan-tonal chromaticism and the ever-present thematic manipulations which characterize the composer’s post-serial vocabulary. The pitch C serves as a linking element throughout the work—a sort of non-thematic rondò motive that recurs at many moments, sometimes in aggregate vertical form and sometimes as a repeated note in various rhythmic groupings. In fact, the piece begins and ends with a clean C played by all the instruments. The title of the composition refers to the issue that a nostalgic overview of the composer’s life brings back many themes and gestures from de la Vega’s output, from elements of the Quintet for Winds, of 1959, to moments from his Homenagem of 1987-88. The central soprano segment of the work is based on the poem De cómo Dios disfraza su ternura (“Of how God disguises his tenderness”), by Cuban poet Emilio Ballagas (1908-1954). Emilio Ballagas (Cuba, 1908-1954) De cómo Dios disfraza su ternura (de “Cielo en rehenes”, 1951) Si a mi angustiosa pregunta no respondes, yo sé que soy abeja de tu oído. Dios silencioso, Dios des conocido, ¿por qué si más te busco, más te escondes? Las olas de los cuándos y dóndes manchan de sombra el litoral perdido en donde clamo…Si no estáis dormido tal vez mi hoguera parpadeante rondes. Lucero en lo alto de mi noche oscura, o vampiro amoroso que la veta se bebe lento de mi sangre impura. ¡ Cómo nutres de luz a tu criatura en tanto la devoras! ¡Que secreta, que secreta, Señor, es tu ternura! Recordatio (“Remembrance”) (2011) for soprano, woodwind quintet and string quintet, on a poem by Emilio Ballagas (Cuba, 1908-1954) Anne Marie Ketchum De La Vega, soprano Daniel Kessner, conductor Salpy Kerkonian, Flute Fred Beerstein, Oboe Steve Piazza, Clarinet Carolyn Beck, Bassoon Jon Titmus, Horn   Hao Zhon, 1st Violin Julie Rogers, 2nd Violin Stefan L. Smith, Viola Paula Hochhalter, Cello Jeff Bandy, Double Bass RECORDING DATA Recorded on Saturday, November 5, 2016; Cypress Recital Hall, California State University, Northridge Recording engineer: Philip Calvert Assistant recording engineer: Miguel Castro Editing engineer: Philip Calvert Mastering engineer: Yalil Guerra at RYCY Productions, Inc., Burbank, California Broadcast and performing rights: BMI