top of page

Compositions

As a little kid in Cuba I always loved writing stories that utilized the flourishing Spanish language I had. 

When I moved to Canada at 17 years old and my life was flipped to English I found the limitations in my knowledge of the language made my writing seem simple. 

I had to find a new language to paint stories with.

​

And so the music unfolds... 

Suite Cuba

Suite Cuba is a journey through the history of Cuba in 6 different dances: Conga, Danzón, Guaguancó (Rumba), Cha Cha Chá, Canción (Bolero), and Casino (Cuban Salsa); using the verses of the national Cuban Poet José Martí, whose ‘simple verses’ transcend time.

Commissioned by the Ottawa Choral Society and their artistic director Gabrielle Gaudreault, Suite Cuba is my newest composition for SATB choir, piano, bandoneon and strings. The piece was premiered in Ottawa on Sunday June 11, 2023 at 3pm at St. Francis of Assisi and was made possible by the support and funding of the Ontario Arts Council. 

 

This has been one of my most fun pieces to research and write! I learned so much about my Cuban roots, its history, its culture and its music. I not only read a myriad of articles and watched any documentary on the different dancing styles and historical moments that were happening, but I also took the time to learn the basic steps of each dance! 

Researching articles and documentaries about Cuba's culture and history, I found how interwoven the music is in many historical events: from interchanging secret messages in the closed-in dance Danzón at the end of the 19th century, to using the Conga as a diversion before the Revolutionaries attacked the Moncada Barrack on July 26th, 1953.  

I am so grateful to Gabrielle Gaudreault for remembering that I was a composer born in Cuba after 10 years! Thank you to the Ottawa Choral Society for your trust and your commission.

​

OAC_Logo_RGB.png
Lyra - Title Page.png

LYRA
for String Quartet

In 2014 I discovered that one of the brightest stars in our galaxy shares my last name "Vega." Fascinated by space and the infinite sky, I knew I had to write a piece based on the constellation that includes this star. 

​

Lyra was such a fun piece to create - from tracing the shape highlighting the major stars, placing each point as musical notes on a 2 system staff paper, and creating the piece based on the melody created by these notes. 

"Vega" takes note G - and the piece represents a journey towards this star. 

​

I am excited to have been selected as on of the Composers of Land of Lakes 

concert presented by the Untitled Ensemble on October 28th, 2023 at 7:30pm at the Array Music Space

​

​

Videos

Lullaby to the Deluded Soldier

for Harp and Erhu

"To all the deluded soldiers throughout history who are faced to follow the fanatical desires of a mad-man..."

Written for the East Chamber Music Festival - Performed by the PhoeNX Ensemble Sanya Eng (harp) and Patty Chan (erhu)

A Haunted Tableau 

for Soprano and Piano

The story of a lonely ghost meeting a lonely human girl.

Words and music by Alondra for Opera from Scratch.

Performed in Halifax, NS by Alondra Vega-Zaldivar and Simon Docking

Cries of the Earth

For 2 soprani, violin and piano

First piece of the 2019 Collaborative Opera "Cries of the Earth" by the Art Song Collaborative Project. Performed at the Array Music Space in Toronto, July 26 and 27, 2019

Alondra Vega-Zaldivar (soprano), Gwenna Fairchild-Taylor (soprano), Meghan Cheng (violin), Caitlin Frasure (piano).

Audio

Two Cardinals

for Piano

The story of a young male cardinal looking for his first mate. His excitement as his gaze falls upon her and his exhilarating thrills of passion and love. 

Performed by Rashaan Allwood.

Lyra (2017)

for String Quartet

Inspired by the constellation Lyra and its brightest star Vega. Placing a manuscript paper on top of the constellation the stars became the main notes of the piece.  

Performed at Orford composition workshop 2014 in Quebec. 

Playdate with Robert

for Violin and Piano

Three silly pieces: Hopscotch; Tag and Fuge; Hide and Seek; inspired by Robert Schumann's Davidsbündlertänze.

Performed by the Ascending Duo Tricia Bonner (violin) and Caitlin Frasure (piano).

List of Works

Solo/ Duets

​

​

Chamber 3 – 6 instruments

​

  • Lunar Eclipse – for flute, clarinet and cello (2010)

  • Lost in the Land of Dreams – for alto flute, violin and piano (2011) 

  • A Fairy Tale – for violin, cello and piano (2011)

  • Entranced – for violin, cello and piano (2012)

  • Into my Wonderland – for flute, clarinet, horn, piano, violin and Cello/ arr. flute, clarinet, euphonium, piano, violin and viola. (2013)

  • Rush – for Wind Quintet (2013-2014)

  • Luna – for Soprano, Cello and Piano (2014) 

  • Lyra for String Quartet (2014)

  • Midnight Feast – for Flute, Clarinet, Piano, Violin and Cello (2014) 

  • Peace… – for flute, viola and harp (2016)  *now available for purchase through: FatRock Ink

  • I am the Voice - for soprano, flute, cello and percussion (2017)

  • Pack Light - for soprano, flute, cello and percussion (2018)

  • Cries of the Earth - for 2 soprani, violin and piano

​​

Orchestral and Big Ensemble

​

  • Sophie – Music Drama - for solo soprano and chamber orchestra (2014-2015)

  • Suite Cuba - for SATB choir, piano, bandoneon and string orchestra (2022-2023)

**To listen more click here to go to my SoundCloud account**

​

bottom of page