Programme Note
Tauromaquia is dedicated to Ian Brown and Edward Seckerson. The title is taken from a series of etchings of the same name by Goya. They are studies of the art of bullfighting, and one in particular depicts the death of Jose Delgado (Pepe Illo), himself the author of a treatise on bullfighting of the same name. The piece ends with a cortège for him. The piece must be played with duende (loosely translated as a kind of passionate creative force), great bravura and at all times with knife-edge intensity and power. 'On s'engage et puis on voit', (Napoleon). The piece lasts 11 minutes.
© Simon Holt