Jimmy López

## **Introduction**

Jimmy López is a classical music composer from Lima, Peru. He has won numerous awards and many different well-known orchestras around the world. López studied at the National Conservatory of Music in Lima where he studied with Peruvian composer Enrique Iturriaga. In 2000 he moved to Helsinki to study at the Sibelius Academy. He received a Ph.D. in Composition at the University of California, Berkeley and has participated in a number of masterclasses with many well-known musicians and composers.

## **Work Analysis**

The work I will be analyzing is Jimmy López's "Man and Man." "Man and Man" is scored for 12 musicians (1 flute, 1 oboe, 1 clarinet in Bb, 1 bassoon, violin I, violin II, viola, cello, and double bass) and a countertenor. This piece was dedicated to López's husband Heleno and was written about their wedding day May 16th, 2015. The piece was premiered at an intimate affair at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. The piece begins with 3 notes that correspond to his husband's initials: H (B natural), M (E) and L (A). These notes outline two different intervals that play a major role throughout the piece. López's program notes also state that the piece flows through different tonal centers and never truly settles until the end. Towards the end of the piece, the singer utters the title of the piece and the same notes and intervals played at the beginning repeat creating the climax of the piece which also marks the poems final stanza. The lyrics of the piece were written by Nilo Curz, a famous playwright and one of López's dear friends. The lyrics are described as having joy and optimism towards the future. The piece sounds almost like an opera or musical theater piece and is played at an upbeat tempo. The flutes are quite pronounced during the opening half and play long sustained grand notes representing the romance in the words. The brass instruments give off a magical or medieval sound to them that almost reminds me of a medieval wedding. There are no percussion instruments present throughout the piece leaving each separate section to become the rhythm holder at one point or another. The violins and viola keep a steady pace throughout the piece while the cello and double bass change dynamics and pace to match the horns and flutes at different times. The fourth and fifth interval mentioned above are extremely obvious throughout the whole piece keeping a common sound in the song.

## **Comparisons**

Jimmy López says he became interested in composing after hearing an invention by Bach. After listening to Bach he decided to teach himself basic music methods that lead to him creating his own music. He says that almost anything inspires him including everyday life and objects. Many of his works are inspired and written about Peruvian legends and memories including "Los Magos del Silencio" and "Aires de Marinera." His music can be compared to works of Bach and traditional Peruvian folk music because he includes Peruvian instruments like the pututo and the ocarina in some of his pieces.

## **Observations**

I thought that "Man and Man" was a beautiful piece and showcased such grand emotion. Because Jimmy López is classified as a classical composer I never thought that he would have music written with such emotion like music from the Romantic Era but it was refreshing. His music as a very modern feeling to it and it was surprising to hear and read that López was so interested in Bach as a composer because I wasn't able to find any obvious similarities with this piece and Bach's work. I find it fascinating that he chooses to incorporate traditional Peruvian music and instruments in his music because it shows a well-rounded musician and composer with knowledge of other cultures and their techniques like Oliver Messian who incorporated Indonesian gamelan into his works.

## **Works Cited**

http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/1163161/26674486/1447541692583/Man+and+Man.pdf?token=CTvGUlUFnkO4QTnJ%2FCnn5wACUJo%3D

http://www.jimmylopez.com/orchestra-or-ensemble/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy\_López