Part composer....Part explorer
Over twenty years and six visits to the Mayan region, American composer
Jeremy Haladyna has ventured ever more deeply into the magic and mystery
of Maya culture, and given something back in the form of his unique body of
work, THE MAYAN CYCLE. Spanning media and genre from music for
a single instrument, to voice, to computer, to DVD-audio, to full orchestra,
this wide variety of pieces seeks to address everything from the most ancient
roots of Mayan cosmology to contemporary Mayan political struggles.
Composer Jeremy Haladyna summits the pyramid of Kukulcán at Chichen Itzá, Yucatan in August 2005.
"The Descent of Kukulcán," Mayan cycle no. 21, encodes the architectural features of this marvel in stone, as well as its cultural symbolism.
Its special focus is the descent of Kukulcán's shadow, in seven segments, down the staircase...a phenomenon seen at each equinox.
THE MAYAN CYCLE
of Jeremy Haladyna (work dated 1986--)
1. Quoth the Jade Mask cello, piano
2. El Llanto de Izamal viola, piano
3. En la Estera del Chilam Balam amplified flute (C or G)
(On the Mat of the Jaguar Priest)
4. The Oracle of 13 Sky soprano, small chorus, pno., organ,
electronic tape, instrumental ensemble
5. Puczikal Petén [Spanish version] computerized tape; narration-on-tape
(Hearts of Yucatán) [English version]
6. Zaquico'xol Eb tpt., organ
(A Red Dwarf Tends the Volcano)
7. The Maya Curse Pedro de Alvarado piano quintet
8. Jaguar Poems sopr., Pierrot ens.+ 1 perc. (chamber vers.)
or, sopr., piano (piano vers.)
9. Aluxes! 2 picc., piano resonance
10. The Crystal Skull of Lubaantun electronic tape
LISTEN to the Crystal Skull interpreted in notes based on the Mayan Calendar!
11. Mam Se Mueve horn (+conch)/pno.
12. Pok-ta-Pok 2-pno. version
version for large orchestra
13. Copal 7 instruments plus concertato harpsichord
14. The Vision Serpent piano solo
15. Precious First-Rat alto flute, celesta
16. Motmot flute, alto flute, metronome
17. Chalchihuites solo cello
18. 2012 solo horn, electronic delay and efx
LISTEN to the "2012 theme," heralding the end of the Fourth Creation in the year 2012! [Steve Gross, horn, w/processing]
19. Monster Owls 2-ch. stereo CD, 4-ch. DVD-A
20. Godpots (Ollas) 3 fl., doubling picc., alto fl. and ocarinas
21. The Descent of Kukulcan bsn. solo, bari sax, amplified hpschd.,
vibraphone, percussion (drumkit, accessories)
22. Zapatismo! double chorus, SATB + SATB;
2 gte. parts (doubled), marimba, castanets
3 graduated toms, maracas
23. Yaxuun [Raxóm, mystical bird] solo piano
24. Demon Zero 4-track DVD plus solo stereo scratch tracks
Obtaining Scores and Recordings
Jeremy Haladyna at Labná, Yucatan...home to the resplendent arch, palace and sacbé [Mayan road]. August, 2005 [photo by Lisa Hosale]
