Aleluya is a rhythmically complex piece with each voice part independently layering rhythmic patterns using frequent syncopation. Córdoba’s idea with this was to compose a universal piece with a special intention to provoke in the audience a desire to live!

Composer’s Notes

The composition of this piece was inspired by rehearsals of the St. Olaf College Viking Chorus where sacred music predominates. I find the meaning of “Aleluya” to be universal in different places and cultures of the world. For example, I saw many beautiful things along the road I traveled many times from Minneapolis to St. Olaf College — “Aleluya” was a synthesis of all of the feelings that I felt in these experiences.

The enthusiastic style of the choral conductor, Christopher Aspaas, and the voices of the young men gave me a special energy and I felt the impulse to compose a very fresh piece with a lot of different feelings and moods. I wrote the piece to include moments of joy, reflection, meditation and explosion through different techniques, but I was always searching to reflect a gratitude for life! It is important to remember that México is a country that was conquered by the Spanish. Our spiritual heritage is still that of the Catholic Church and that syncretism is present in many Mexican artistic fields. However, I tried to compose this piece without direct reference to Mexico’s spiritual history.

For me, the idea was to compose a universal piece with a special intention to provoke in the audience a desire to live!

– Jorge Córdoba