La Mezquita de Córdoba

Julie Giroux

The title translates from the Spanish as "The Mosque at Córdoba."

General Info

Year: 2005
Duration: c. 11:30
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Musica Propria
Cost: Score and Parts - $140.00 | Score Only - $35.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon
Contrabassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion, including:

Bar Chimes
Bass Drum
Castanets
Crash Cymbals
Finger Cymbals
Jingle Stick
Maracas
Marimba
Skin Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Suspended trash cymbal
Tambourine
Triangle
Tubular Bells

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

In 169 B.C. the Romans founded Córdoba. After the fall of Rome, it existed under the rule of the Visigoths and became the capital of Al Andalus, Muslim Spain, in 716.

The Moors conquered Córdoba in the eighth century, and by the tenth century the city boasted a population of 500,000, compared to about 38,000 in Paris. According to the chronicles of the day, the city had 700 mosques, some 60,000 palaces, and 70 libraries -- one reportedly housing 500,000 manuscripts and employing a staff of researchers, illuminators and book binders. Córdoba also had some 900 public baths as well as Europe’s first street lights.

Reigning with wisdom and justice, the rulers of Córdoba treated Christians and Jews with tolerance. They also improved trade and agriculture, patronized the arts, made valuable contributions to science, and established Córdoba as the most sophisticated city in Europe.

When the Moors conquered Córdoba, they found a Visigoth cathedral, promptly pulled it down and built a mosque complex, the walls of which enclosed about four acres. It was over 40 years in the making. Over the centuries, the Moors roofed over and developed more and more within this complex. Muslim, Christian, and Jewish faiths alike were practiced within its walls, an unprecedented feat then and literally unheard of today.

When the Christians reconquered Córdoba in 1236, the new rulers were so awed by its beauty that they left it standing, building their cathedral in the midst of its rows of arches and columns. Thus it is preserved today, fondly referred to in Spain as "La Gran Mezquita."

La Mezquita contains over 500 marble, granite, and alabaster columns. Mixed into the califal styles, one can see the Byzantine and oriental influences, as well as Hispano-romanic and Visigoth elements throughout the mosque. The grandeur of La Mezquita and its colorful political and religious history has earned it its place as a true wonder of the civilized world.

La Mezquita de Córdoba opens with the destruction of the original Christian church in 716 A.D. and proceeds as a musical celebration of its multi-cultural, religious and artistic accomplishments.

- Program Note by composer

Commissioned by the Louisiana State University Beta Omega Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia for Frank B. Wickes in honor of 25 years of music education and excellence at Louisiana State University

- Program Note from score

Awards

La Mezquita de Córdoba has been recommended as interesting, serious and distinctive music by members of the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE).

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: University of Texas at El Paso Symphonic Winds (Ron Hufstader, conductor) - 5 July 2011

State Ratings

Florida: V
Indiana: ISSMA SENIOR BAND GROUP I
North Carolina: VI
Ohio: OMEA High School Band AA

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

2022 CBDNA North Central Intercollegiate Band (Madison, Wisc.) (Rebecca Phillips, conductor) – 8 April 2022 (CBDNA 2022 North Central Conference, Madison, Wisc.)
California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo) Wind Ensemble (Christopher J. Woodruff, conductor) – 17 March 2022 (CBDNA 2022 Western/Northwestern Conference, Tacoma, Wash.)
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Wind Ensemble (Christopher J. Woodruff, conductor) – 26 February 2022
Texas Christian University (Fort Worth) Symphonic Band (Brian Youngblood, conductor) - 7 February 2022
Interlochen Center for the Arts (Michigan) Adult Band Camp (Thomas Riccobono, conductor) - 15 August 2021
West Virginia University (Morgantown) Symphonic Band (Jay Drury, conductor) – 27 February 2020
Ithaca (N.Y.) College Concert Band (Benjamin Rochford, conductor) – 11 December 2019
Lamar University (Beaumont, Tx.) Wind Ensemble (Andrew McMahan, conductor) – 17 October 2019
Indiana University (Bloomington) Summer Band (Eric Smedley, conductor) – 17 July 2019
Slippery Rock (Penn.) University Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Jonathan Helmick, conductor) – 16 October 2018
Wind Symphony of Clovis (Calif.) (Gary P. Gilroy, conductor) – 26 November 2017
Irish Symphonic Wind Orchestra (Dublin) (Liam Daly, conductor) – 19 July 2017 - WASBE Conference (Utrecht, Netherlands)
Metropolitan Wind Symphony (Lexington, Mass.) (Lewis J. Buckley, conductor) – 10 June 2017
California State University, Bakersfield, Concert Band (Leo Sakomoto, conductor) – 5 May 2017
College of the Sequoias (Visalia, Calif.) Symphonic Band (Michel Tackett, conductor) - 24 March 2017 (2017 Sutherland Wind Festival (Fresno, Calif.)
University of Colorado, Boulder, Concert Band and Symphonic Band – 13 April 2016
Fresno (Calif.) City College Wind Ensemble (Dale Engstrom, conductor) - 13 March 2016 (2016 Sutherland Wind Festival (Fresno, Calif.)
Colorado Wind Ensemble (Denver) (Joseph Martin, conductor) - Saturday, Oct 25, 2014
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Wind Ensemble (Andrew McMahan, conductor) - 25 April 2014
Metropolitan Wind Symphony (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) (Lewis J. Buckley, conductor) - 2014

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

The Bonsai Tree (Flex instrumentation) (2010/2020)
Chanukkah, Oh Chanukkah (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1739/2020)
I'll Be Home A-fore Ye (Flex instrumentation) (2003/2020)
Market Bridge (Flex instrumentation) (2013/2020)
One Life Beautiful (Flex instrumentation) (2010/2020)
Opa! (Flex instrumentation) (2017/2020)
Our Cast Aways (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2020)
A Time to Dance (2006) (Flex instrumentation) (2006/2020)

All Wind Works

Af-free-kah! (2013)
All Good Things (2003)
All Through the Night (as arranger) (2011)
Always (2019)
Amaranthine (2008)
Appalachian Portrait (2017)
The Ash Grove (2019)
Autumn Rose (2017)
Away in a Manger (as arranger) (2011)
Before the Sun (2013)
Beyond the Gates (2022)
The Bench by the Sea (2017)
The Big Blue Marble (2022)
The Bonsai Tree (2010)
Bookmarks from Japan (2013)
Boston Liberties (2003)
Burning the Wickerman (2020)
Carnaval! (2013)
Celestial Seas (2014)
Chanukkah, Oh Chanukkah (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Chorale for Wind Band and Melodic Percussion (as arranger) (2015)
Christmas and Sousa Forever (as arranger) (2010)
Christmas Toons (2012)
Christmas with Mozart (2007)
Circus Franticus (2001)
Córdoba (2013)
Crown of Thorns (1998)
Culloden I and II (2000)
Culloden III (2000)
Dragon Sky (2015)
Dream Dancer (2005)
The Elements. See: Symphony No. 5
Empire (2006)
An Epic Fanfare. See: Three Fanfares
Fantasy in French (2012)
Fields of Gold (2019)
The First Noel (as arranger)
Fort McHenry Suite (2000)
Freedom Rising (2017)
Glenbury Grove (2009)
Glorious Light (2019)
The Grace in Being (2013)
The Greatest Generation (2002)
Hands of Mercy (2001)
HardDrive (2010)
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1739/2020)
Hark! Those Bells Are Smokin’ (2011)
The Hearthstone (2016)
Husaria Cavalry Overture (2006)
Hymn for the Innocent (2016)
I Got Rhythm for Christmas (2012)
Il Burlone (2000)
I'll Be Home A'fore Ye (2006)
I'll Be Home A-fore Ye (Flex instrumentation) (2003/2020)
I'll Be Home for Christmas (as arranger) (1943/)
Imbizo (2007)
Impressions (2013)
In My Father's Eyes (2017)
In the Bleak Midwinter (as arranger) (1906/2018)
Incantations (2019)
Italian Rhapsody (2005)
Jerusalem (as arranger)
Jingle Them Bells (as arranger) (1857/2011)
Journey Through Orion (2006)
Just Flyin'! (2015)
K2 (2012)
Kalanu (2002)
Khan (2008)
La Mezquita de Córdoba (2005)
Let Your Spirit Sing (2003)
The Little Drummer Boy's Bolero
Louisiana Parish Sketches (2001)
Mambo Perro Loco (2008)
March of the Sun Dried Tomatoes (2000)
Market Bridge (Flex instrumentation) (2013/2020)
Medalist Fanfare (2013)
Moonshine. See: Shine
Movin' on Down the Line (2009)
My Soul to Keep (2019)
Mystery on Mena Mountain (1985)
Mythic (2021)
The Nature of the Beast (2001)
Nihonbashi. See: Market Bridge
No Finer Calling (2006)
No Man's Land (2017)
Nothing That Is (2000)
Nutcracker Fantasia (as arranger) (1891/2012)
O Holy Night (arr. Giroux) (1847/2011)
Of Blood and Stone (2015)
One Life Beautiful (2010)
One Life Beautiful (Flex instrumentation) (2010/2020)
One Torch, Two Women, Three Ships and Men Rejoicing (2011)
Opa! (2018)
Ouachita (1987)
Our Cast Aways (2018)
Our Cast Aways (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2020)
Outlander (2010)
Overture in Five Flat (2010)
Paprikash (2014)
Peter Patapan (2011)
Poseidon (2012)
Primality 2006)
Prisoner of the Ring (1986)
Radiant Shadows (2016)
Rain Softly on Me (2022)
The Red Baron Drummer
Riften Wed (2013)
River Shannon (2020)
Shadow Falls (2013)
Shine (2017)
Silent Night in Gotham (as arranger) (1818/2009)
Space Symphony (1986/1991)
The Speed of Heat (2010)
Stealing Home (2016)
A Stocking Full of Composers (2009)
Sun Catcher (2022)
Symphony No. 5 (2017)
Symphony No. 6. see: The Big Blue
A Symphony of Fables (2006)
Taboo for Trumpet and Wind Ensemble
Three Fanfares (2003)
Three Wise Guys (2011)
Tiger Tail March (2000)
A Time to Dance (2006)
To Walk with Wings (2000)
The Twelve Days of Christmas (2012)
The Twelve Gallon Hat (2013)
Under the Willow (2015)
A Very Merry Heart and Soul
Vigils Keep (2005)
Vortex (2015)
Wagon Trail (2003)
West Wind Overture (2012)
What Child Is That Playing Carol of the Bells? (as arranger) (2011)
What Goes in the Night (2000)
When Country Comes to Town (2008)
Where the Red Fern Grows (2016)
Wild West Overture
Winter from "The Four Seasons" (as arranger) (1725/)
Without You
Wolves in Moonlight (2019)
Zephyr, Chorale and Dance (2012)

Resources

Giroux, J. (2005). La Mosque de Córdoba = The Mosque at Córdoba: For Concert Band [score]. Musica Propria: San Antonio, Tex.
Julie Giroux website Accessed 10 July 2021