El miserere de la montaña. Symphonic Poem

Symphonic Poem  

José Serrano Simeón. Version for band: Ramón Ahulló

The symphonic poem El miserere de la montaña, by José Serrano Simeón (1873-1941), is a first approximation to the symphonic environment of the Valencian composer during his localist period, halfway between his hometown in Sueca and the musical environment of the capital of the Turia, Valencia. In accordance with the compositional practice of his mentor, Salvador Giner, the young Serrano carried out a creative work that offered a certain formal freedom, while allowing experimentation in thematic treatment. Being an admirer of Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, the Valencian master chose one of the Sevillian composer's legends as inspiration and so that it excused the continuous thematic reworking.

The legend El miserere de la montaña, by Bécquer, resorts to a topic in the sound environment, which is the thematic creation and its complexity. In Bécquer's narration, the protagonist is a musician obsessed with the idea of composing a piece based on the psalm Miserere, written by King David to ask for forgiveness for his sins. Bécquer's legend leaves the piece unfinished and, therefore, unable to be performed.

Casualmente, la pieza del maestro Serrano, hallada entre sus archivos manuscritos (custodiados por su familia), también estaba inconclusa. De hecho, no llegó a ser estrenada, a pesar de que el valenciano la llevó consigo en su viaje a Madrid y pidió al maestro Giner que intercediese ante Bretón para que la estrenase en la Sociedad de Conciertos madrileña.

Coincidentally, the piece by the master Serrano, found in his handwritten records, kept by his family, was also unfinished. In fact, it was never performed, although the Valencian took it with him on his trip to Madrid and asked master Giner to intercede with Bretón so that it could be performed for the first time at the Sociedad de Conciertos in Madrid. The band tradition of the Levantine environment carries on this widespread practice: adaptations of orchestral pieces. Master Giner saw some symphonic poems performed by the band ensembles in his surroundings.

For this reason, we present this adaptation for band of El miserere de la montaña extending the diffusion of master Serrano’s work, premiered on 28th April 2022 by the Bilbao local band, conducted by José Rafael Pascual Vilaplana.

Instrumental parts available for download.