Elegy for String Orchestra

Elegy for String Orchestra was composed by César Avilés over the course of one year, being finished in the summer of 2015. The piece takes the listener through the stages of losing a loved one unexpectedly; it was written in memory of the composer’s mother.

The composition begins by setting the atmosphere of the tragic event. A sorrow section follows presenting the first theme with high weeping strings. This theme transitions through contemplative harmonies into an angry forte (the loudest section of the piece). The music proceeds to a meditative segment in which the memory of the lost one is echoed. A peaceful and serene ascent is then presented in the final part of the piece. The elegy concludes with an ambience of acceptance and hope.