Simón García’s In Nomine Domine for Double Bass Octet is wonderfully colourful and inventive. It explores the entire range of the double bass, is aimed at the advanced ensemble, and has great performer and audience appeal.
In Nomine Domine (In the name of the Lord) was commissioned by Rodrigo Mata for the Mushamukas ensemble and a CD project where the only non-Mexican composer was Simón García. The assignment was to write a piece about the Spanish invasion of Mexico producing a wonderfully descriptive piece.
Two themes are presented, the first is at the Spanish court, with Renaissance sounds, the second with pre-Columbian music, then descriptions of the sounds of the ships arriving at the Mexican coast and a cantus firmus to Christianize the indigenous people. Finally, the two main themes are combined to represent the war between the two cultures.
In Nomine Domine ends with sounds representing the Aztec death whistle. It was necessary to research traditional Mexican instruments and pre-Columbian music for this work, but it was exciting.
[Programme note by Simón García]