Writing this piece was one of the most painful experiences of my career

In 2019, I had two premieres close together in two different cities for the first time. Achievement unlocked! It was such an emotional/painful couple of weeks because I got to hear two different performances of my new piece ¡Ayúdame! The first one for SSAA and the second one for SATB, both with percussion.

Since writing this blog post on my previous page, the piece has been performed three more times. In 2020, You’ll have four different opportunities to listen to it. Including today, in SWACDA thanks to Dr. Christopher Aspaas and the TCU Chorale.

I am grateful for this, and hoping that more choirs join this important message!

¡Ayúdame! is an experience, an emotional journey

Most of you know I am from Venezuela. I say it all the time because I love that I am Venezuelan.

However, I feel heartbroken that I can’t do more for my country, or my family. So I decided to change that. In early 2019, I was brave enough to write a piece about the humanitarian crisis that Venezuela is going through.

The result was a piece for four voices (SATB, versions for SSAA or TTBB are available as well) and simple percussion. I believe that no matter how painful, this piece is necessary. I need to tell everyone how much my country is suffering and how people are dying every day in Venezuela.

Writing the text was equally painful

As I’ve done with several of my previous compositions, I wrote the text of the piece.

It hits me hard every time I read it, and I want to share it with you.

Mírame, (Look at me,) 
Escúchame. (Listen to me.)  

Estoy Sufriendo. (I’m suffering.)

No puedo ver, (I cannot see,) 
Tengo hambre, (I am hungry,) 
Tengo sed, (I am thirsty,) 
Estoy Enfermo. (I am sick.)

¡Ayúdame! means Help me!

The world premieres brought to the stage this pain. They made it real! I was speechless and crying, feeling overwhelmed, as I felt when I recorded this demo:

The World Premieres

Adrienne Pedrotti in Austin, TX (Inversion Ensemble Da Capo, SSAA version); and Alex Bruce in Houston, TX (Suono Chamber Choir, SATB version) gave their heart on stage.

It was difficult to sit through and even more difficult to be happy after it was over. I could hear my people telling their painful stories.

You see smiles on the pictures because we tend to smile for photos. Also, because I was glad that I could share this experience with family and friends and grateful for the incredible performances.

What the audience had to say after the concerts

After the concerts, people reached out to tell me that even though they did not understand Spanish, they could understand the pain, the damage, and the deaths.

People from the choir told me that they felt transformed just by having to live through those words, having to ask others for help.

Yes, it is uncomfortable, but it is the truth.