Reviravoltas Sonoras

Reviravoltas Sonoras (2022, arr. 2024) for violin, vibraphone, and cello Jennifer Bellor, composer Duration: 7' When I finished the piece and brought it to the group, I asked them if any ideas for a title come to mind. Originally written for former graduate students at UNLV in 2022 (bassist Molly Redfield, violinist Lucas Martins, and percussionist Gabriela Ordonez-Villalobos), they came up with the title, Reviravoltas Sonoras. A note from the violinist: "The title is from Portuguese and aptly describes the playful soundscape full of twists and turns, creating the juxtaposition of percussive sounds and soaring melodies. The etymological root of the word "Reviravolta" comes from the junction of "revira" and "volta," which both express some sort of turning, twisting, or dancing. "Sonora" is an adjective that can be translated to express resonance, reverberance, or singing." - Lucas H.T. Martins (violin) The piece begins with this playful interplay among the three instruments, leading into this lyrical, melancholy section featuring the vibraphone, which I labeled as "Bell Song" in the score. The violin melody that emerges at the end of the section leads back into the playful interplay from the beginning, with a bit of a nostalgic twist. A new 2024 version for violin, vibraphone and cello was premiered on the "Jennifer Bellor Portrait Concert" held at Virginia Tech October 1, 2024 as a part of the New Music & Technology Festival. The performance featured John Irrera (violin), Annie Stevens (vibraphone), and Alan Weinstein (cello). The cello part was edited by Weinstein and many thanks to him for the markings and suggestions he made to make the original bass part fit beautifully for the cello.