PIANO SOLO COMPOSITIONS 

OBSIDIAN
Solo piano piece built on an original
​ostinato theme

SECOND PRIZE WINNER
CONTEMPORARY CATEGORY
XXI COMPETITION FOR PIANO COMPOSITION "FIDELIO"
​Madrid, Spain
OBSIDIAN is a solo piano piece with rugged edges, warrior character, yet clearly identified themes and melodic subjects.
Performed by Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal at the piano (January, 2018)
Approximate length: 2 minutes, 15 seconds

OBSIDIAN es una pieza para piano solo con ángulos afilados y carácter guerrero, a su vez, contiene temas y motivos melódicos.
Interpretada al piano por el compositor Gabriel Ruiz Bernal
Duración: 2 minutos, 15 segundos
Performed by Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal at the piano
Approximate length: 2 minutes, 15 seconds
LINK TO YOUTUBE VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/sNgSzKBAH2Q

EMBED CODE FOR YOUTUBE VIDEO:
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AUDIO RECORDING:
DOWNLOAD AUDIO RECORDING HERE:
OBSIDIAN Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal
File Size: 2287 kb
File Type: mp3
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Some of the comments received at the Fidelio Competition:

An unusual insightful, aural interpretation of this volcanic glass stone.  The stone’s diverse characteristics translated into various moods, beautifully integrated.  Holistic style and structure. Expressive and masterfully interpreted.

Ecriture virtuose et difficultés rythmiques mais presque atonal…

I like this because it is truly original and shows a lot of musical knowledge that's put to good use to compose a piece that is very interesting to listen to. It has a nice arc, good variety, and the bass holds the piece together well - repetitively but rhythmically and tonally interesting and even exciting.

DISTANT WALTZ
Waltz in G minor for solo piano

SECOND PRIZE WINNER
IMPRESSIONISTIC CATEGORY
XXI COMPETITION FOR PIANO COMPOSITION "FIDELIO"
​Madrid, Spain
DISTANT WALTZ is a slippery piece, at times close, at times far, between dancing and escaping away.  It presents extended harmonies with jazz influences, a nebulous theme that hides behind the texture, and a sense of floating in the air.
Performed by Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal at the piano (March, 2018)
​Approximate length: 2 minutes

DISTANT WALTZ es una pieza escurridiza, a veces cercana y a veces lejana, un vals que se aleja en la distancia.  Construido con armonías extendidas con influencia de jazz, un tema nebuloso que se oculta tras la textura de la pieza, y una impresión general de estar flotando en el aire.
Interpretada al piano por el compositor Gabriel Ruiz Bernal
Duración: 2 minutos

Some of the comments received at the Fidelio Competition:

My favorite piece so far in the competition, easily. Exquisite harmonies and figurations; extremely idiomatically written for the instrument. Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I was getting hints of jazz, impressionism, Ligeti… the list goes on. Fabulous ending as well.

Travail interessant très personnel mais qui tend trop vers la musique atonale

Some expert use of embellishment and chromaticism with a wandering rubato. A hybrid mix of Debussy meet Rachmaninoff! You push the boundaries of tonal vs atonal so this is just about within the boundaries of the classical/romantic group.

Very melancholy and yearning. Also nice performance touch.

Very interesting harmony and melodic development 

​A little bit eerie and pretty emotional. Feeling like getting lost. ​
​
Performed by Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal at the piano
Approximate length: 2 minutes
LINK TO YOUTUBE VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/hg7Bo-OZ0L8

EMBED CODE FOR YOUTUBE VIDEO:
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AUDIO RECORDING:
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DISTANT WALTZ Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal
File Size: 2192 kb
File Type: mp3
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Theme and Five Variations
​on the Spanish Folk Song
LA TARARA

FINALIST
Variation 3 "Arrebato"
CONTEMPORARY CATEGORY
XXI COMPETITION FOR PIANO COMPOSITION "FIDELIO"
​Madrid, Spain


​Each variation represents a scene:
Tema / Theme Var. 1 La Tarara y los niños
Var. 2 Monólogo
Var. 3 Arrebato
Var. 4 Soledad
Var. 5 La Tarara baila
​
La Tarara is a song that for generations Spanish children sung in circles. Some specialists point out that its origin would be Sephardic, although the first known versions date back to the 19th century. Collected by Spanish poet Federico García-Lorca in 1931, still today it can be heard sung as part of the folk tradition of Spain.

The song tells us about a woman (Tarara) who walks through the fields dancing, with add clothing and somewhat strange behavior, most likely crazy. Children would follow her and laugh loudly while playing and dancing.

This piano piece presents the theme accompanied by a simple harmonization, followed by 5 variations, each of which uses the theme as material. The first variation (Tarara and the children) watches the scene from outside, while variations 2 to 5 describe the character of La Tarara from inside her own point of view.
Cada variación representa una escena:

Tema
Var. 1 La Tarara y los niños
Var. 2 Monólogo
Var. 3 Arrebato
Var. 4 Soledad
Var. 5 La Tarara baila

La Tarara es una canción que muchas generaciones de niños han cantado en juegos de rondas. Algunos especialistas apuntan que es de origen sefardí, aunque las primeras versiones documentadas son del siglo XIX. fue recogida por el poeta español Federico García Lorca en 9131, y aun hoy se oye como parte del cancionero popular español.

La Tarara cuenta la historia de una mujer que camina por campos bailando, con indumentaria extravagante y comportamiento extraño, seguramente algo loca. Los niños la siguen riendo, bailando y jugando.

Esta pieza para piano presenta el tema acompañado por una armonización muy simple, seguida de cinco variaciones que usan el tema de La Tarara como material. La primera variación (La Tarara y los niños) observa la escena desde fuera, mientras que variaciones 2 a la 5 describe a La Tarara desde dentro, desde su punto de vista propio.
Performed by Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal at the piano
Approximate length: 7 minutes, 30 seconds
LINK TO YOUTUBE VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/Px_3dKhaIms

EMBED CODE FOR YOUTUBE VIDEO:
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AUDIO RECORDING:
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LA TARARA VARIATIONS Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal
File Size: 18669 kb
File Type: mp3
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Some of the comments received at the Fidelio Competition:

Comments on "ARREBATO":

Short but mysterious and mischievous. I like how it was executed with great technique.
​
Cool piece. I like it. I get Alberto Ginastrera vibes.

Comments on "LA TARARA BAILA":

Very Ravel, very imagery, I like the smouldering power beneath the waves. Love it. 

Great piece, good piano sound and energetic and original texture. Whole tone scales and flamenco rhythms reminiscent of Debussy preludes and Albéniz.

A fantastic piece in the impressionistic style, very reminscent of L'isle Joyeuse by Debussy but with your own original spin. [...] Wonderul harmonic ideas and pianistic fireworks.

Fantasy on the 19th century Irish song
"Rocky Road to Dublin"

FINALIST
IMPRESSIONISTIC CATEGORY
XXI COMPETITION FOR PIANO COMPOSITION "FIDELIO"
​Madrid, Spain
Dedicated to Professor of Piano Elizabeth Temple
​Approximate length: 3 minutes, 37 seconds
LINK TO YOUTUBE VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/3XB9n3DLkus

EMBED CODE FOR YOUTUBE VIDEO:
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AUDIO RECORDING:
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FANTASY ON "ROCKY ROAD TO DUBLIN" Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal
File Size: 2684 kb
File Type: mp3
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Some of the comments received at the Fidelio Competition:

Very much enjoyed the blending of styles in this piece, the title makes a lot of sense!

FIREFLY
Short waltz for piano solo in A minor

Instrumental piece based on the piano accompaniment for
​"Two Butterflies" for voice and piano
​Commissioned by the Hughes family in memory of Bob and Ginny Hughes.
Level of difficulty: Intermediate
​Approximate length: 1 minutes, 43 seconds

AWAY
Short waltz for piano solo in D Major

Commissioned by Jonathan Cain and Shannon Cain-Dooling
Level of difficulty: Intermediate
​Approximate length: 3 minutes, 46 seconds

SERENITY
​Short piece for piano solo

Commissioned by Jonathan Cain and Shannon Cain-Dooling
Level of difficulty: Low intermediate
​Approximate length: 3 minutes, 37 seconds
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