Aldemaro Romero was born in Valencia, Venezuela, on March 12, 1928, and died in Caracas, Venezuela, on September 15, 2007. Fuga con Pajarillo is scored for string orchestra. Approximate performance time is seven minutes.
Aldemaro Romero was one of the most successful and influential Venezuelan musicians of the 20th century. His work as composer, arranger, pianist, and conductor spanned a vast range of classical and popular genres. Romero is credited with the creation of the Onda Nueva (New Wave), a form of music inspired by a fusion of the Venezuelan joropo, Brazilian bossa nova, and jazz. Romero also founded the Caracas Philharmonic Orchestra in 1979, and was its first conductor.
The Fuga con Pajarillo originated as part of Aldemaro Romero’s Suite No. 1 for String Orchestra. The pajarillo is a traditional Venezuelan dance. Cast in triple meter, the pajarillo places the accent on the second beat (rather than the first, as in the waltz). Romero combines the pajarillo with traditional fugue structure to create a beguiling and exhilarating work.
Program notes by Ken Meltzer