Manuel Oltra was one of Catalonia’s most distinguished composers and teachers. His “Eco” and “Preludio” come from a set of Three Songs of Love on texts by Garcia Lorca. Composed in 1965 and 1964, they display a brilliant ability to compose for the choral instrument, and they each create the wonderfully vivid atmospheres of the unique Lorca poems (which you can read below.)

– Dennis Keene

MANUEL OLTRA "Eco" and Preludio"
Voices of Ascension
Dennis Keene, Artistic Director

from the Naxos recording Song of the Stars ℗ 2009 Naxos
The singers in this performance are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO.

“Eco” by Garcia Lorca

Ya se ha abierto
la flor de la aurora.
(¿Recuerdas
el fondo de la tarde?)
El nardo de la luna
derrama su olor frío.
(¿Recuerdas
la mirada de agosto?)

The flower of dawn has now opened.
(Do you recall the late afternoon?)
The spikenard plant radiates its cool scent under the moon.
(Do you recall how August seemed?)

“Preludio” by Garcia Lorca

Las alamedas se van,
pero dejan su reflejo.
Las alamedas se van.
pero nos dejan el viento.
El viento está amortajado
a lo largo bajo el cielo.
Pero ha dejado flotando
sobre los ríos sus ecos.
El mundo de las luciérnagas
ha invadido mis recuerdos.
Y un corazón diminuto
me va brotando en los dedos.

The poplar avenues move on
but leave their reflection.
The poplar lanes move on
but leave us the wind.
The wind lies shrouded a
full length beneath the sky.
But floating on the rivers
it has left its echoes.
The world of fireflies
has invaded my memories.
And a tiny little heart
is sprouting at my fingertips.