AVNER FINBERG

Finalist – Banaue International Music Composition Competition 2018

Honorable Mention – The Chelsea Symphony Composition Competition 2018-19

Pugaw-Earthworld for Symphony Orchestra is inspired by the oral history of the Ifugau people from the Luzon province of The Philippines.  Their oral history states that the Ifugau descended from Kabunyan (Skyworld) through many layers of sky-worlds, until finally arriving at Pugaw (Earth-world). The Ifugau are known for constructing the world’s largest mountain rice terraces in Banaue, and their descension from the sky-worlds echoes the multi-layered structure of those terraces. The cyclical, layered shape of the terraces inspired the form of this composition. It begins with an expansive trumpet melody in improvisatory style, an orchestral version of a Tongali (nose-flute) melody representing the memory of Kabunyan. In a series of symphonic episodes representing the layers of skyworld or the rice-terraces, each subsequent episode expands and elaborates this melody. The last episode repeats the first trumpet melody, closing the cycle. This piece is dedicated to the memory of Steven Stucky, whose teachings and guidance inspired me in its composition