The harbor and the other harbors

The harbor and the other harbors was commissioned by Antonio Eduardo, a Brazilian pianist who played these pieces in the premiere performance respectively on August 27, 2001 (Festival Musica Nova de Santos) and on September 1, 2002 (Centro Cultural São Paulo) in São Paulo, Brazil. The title is a reference to the harbors of Santos, Brazil, Antonio Eduardo´s natal city and Copenhagen, Denmark. The piece is inspired on a poem by the Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa (actually his heteronymous Álvaro de Campos) “Passagem das horas”. The poem starts by describing a long journey that unfolds in several layers.

Like the poem, The harbor and the other harbors also unfolds in several contrapuntal layers. The piece starts with a very simple presentation of three tones: Ab, C and E. These tunes serve as a “ground” in the whole piece, where other materials are added, such as birdsong, transformed folk music fragments, imitations of a Brazilian instrument – a berinbau, and musical materials derived from those sources.

Silvia Berg (b.1958) – was born in São Paulo, Brazil and was educated at the University of São Paulo as a composer. In 1984, she received a scholarship from CNPQ (National Scientific Research Center) which allowed further studies in Europe. Living in Denmark since 1985, Silvia Berg was also educated at Copenhagen University as conductor. She is a well regarded conductor, directing the Ensemble Øresund of Contemporary Music in Copenhagen from 1998 -2000, AmaCantus since 1998, and several other choirs and groups, including stage productions and Festivals. As composer, her music has been played at many concerts throughout Europe, Brazil and USA.

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