The “Zapateado
de San Fermín” was written with the idea of making a kind
of ‘traditional’ musical
contribution to the fiestas of San Fermín of Pamplona, describing
some of the facets of this very happy week. The composer, born in Great
Britain but also with Spanish nationality, has lived for a number of
years in the Navarre region and has first-hand experience of the festivities.
It was also at the same time a deliberate personal challenge to compose
a work in the wake of the tradition laid down by the famous Pamplona
violinist Pablo Sarasate (who himself was a ‘regular’ in
San Fermín in his own day). In this present work the violin is
also the featured soloist, with the accompaniment of piano, although
it can also work extremely effectively with string
orchestra. It is
in ternary form and contains virtuoso passages for the soloist. The composer
dedicates the piece to his friend, the Navarre violinist Fermín
Ansó.
