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ASTRAIN – Vals de Astrain (La Alegría en San Fermín) – 5 VIOLAS or VIOLA ORCHESTRA

Other Identification:
Miguel Astráin was the composer of this popular song. Born in Pamplona in 1850, he entered the School of Music at the age of 11, and at 33 became the conductor of the band of the ‘Casa de Misericordia’. He died at the young age of 45 in his San Agustín Street home in Pamplona, without ever knowing to the full extent of enjoyment that his composition would become. It is believed that this popular song began to be performed regularly in Pamplona from 1909 onwards, coinciding with the “March of Vespers”, but the exact composition date is unknown (but at a guess probably from the 1890s or early twentieth century). However, the lyrics to this waltz were not written until 1928, by María Isabel Hualde Redín, and, with these lyrics, this music has consolidated the fame which has reached us today – one of the best-known songs in the history of the San Fermín festival and indeed of the entire Navarre region of Spain.

Movements or sections:
The “Astráin” Waltz, locally known as the ‘Riau-riau’, is one of the most popular songs of the San Fermín festivities (second week of July every year), although its original and accurate title is actually ‘La alegría de San Fermín’ (The Joy of San Fermín).

Its verses, “Because the festivities have arrived / Of this glorious city / Which are in the whole world / A festival without equal / Riau-riau!” announce the arrival of San Fermín and are sung accompanied by the ‘La Pamplonesa’ band and also by the brass bands of the peñas (the local social clubs). It is also sung before every Osasuna match at the ‘El Sadar’ stadium by 20,000 fans!

Instrumentation:
QUINTET OF FIVE VIOLAS
or a VIOLA ORCHESTRA!

Downloads of 2 PDFs:
[1 – General Score (the altewrnate cello ensemble is offered in small print)
[2 – All individual VIOLA parts

Approximate difficulty:
The version for VIOLA ensemble by David Johnstone is almost surely the first setting of this for viola ensembles, whether it be five soloists, or with viola ensembles of any size! It is not difficult (although it passes the ‘A’ string octave ‘A’ occasionally), and every part has lyrical moments, making this a delightful piece of chamber music!

Dedicatee of this presentation (if applicable):
This musical creation is dedicated to the very fine Spanish violist Maite Colás Blanco

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