I-Juca-Pirama
Written in 2009, this work is based on a poem from the 19th century by the Brazilian poet Gonçalves Dias. The translation of the title, from the tupi language, is something like “the one who will be dead, the one who is worthy to be killed”. The poem is about a tupi warrior, the last of his kind, who is caught by the Timbiras, an enemy tribe. During the Rite, when he’s getting prepared to be eaten, he cries – and they free him, since he is not worthy and, therefore, would give his weakness to the Timbiras if his flesh is eaten. He runs, and in the forest, meets his old blind father, who recognizes on him the preparation for the rite and, believing that his son escaped, takes him back to the Timbiras. There, he is told that his son cried, and curses him – a Tupi can’t be weak, he is no longer one of them. Seeing his father suffering from his dishonor, he summons his strength and starts to attack the tribe. Now, his courage grants his honor back to him and his kind, and finally he is cannibalized, his father accepted in the Timbira tribe, and this tale of courage and redemption is told through generations. This work is scored for flute, oboe, clarinet, soprano, violin, viola, cello, d-bass, piano, harp and percussion
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