World Premiere ‘Paisaje Urbano’ by Felipe Pinto d’Aguiar in Santiago, Chile

January 31st 2025
Accordions Worldwide

“Paisaje Urbano” (“Townscape” or literally “Urban Landscape”) is a composition by Chilean composer Felipe Pinto d’Aguiar, written for two free bass, two standard bass, and two bass accordions.

Paisaje Urbano was finished on 31st of December of 2024 and played for the very first time at the Espacio Matta at the theatre for 400 people in Santiago de Chile.

“Paisaje Urbano” (2024) is a composition for four accordions, with the option to include two bass accordions. The work features resonant chords that move across the stage, creating immersive stereo effects. By alternating between free bass and Stradella systems, it builds rich harmonic textures that evoke the dynamic energy and soundscape of urban life.

The piece was completed on December 31st, 2024, and premiered at the Espacio Matta theatre in Santiago, Chile, before an audience of 400. The performance featured the Quinteto Entre Fuelles, with an additional bass player, 16-year-old Cristobal Montoya. The Quintet’s members are Tania Ibáñez, Aina Sandoval, Karla Ponce, Manuel Bustamante, and director Joaquín Muñoz Donoso.

Felipe Pinto d’Aguiar, described as possessing “emotional drive and intensity” (Sydney Morning Herald), is a prominent Chilean composer originally from Santiago. His work spans five continents, with collaborations including Sound Icon, Boston Musica Viva, and the JACK Quartet. He holds a DMA in Composition from Boston University, where he studied under Joshua Fineberg with the support of a Fulbright grant. El Mercurio has called him one of the “most powerful Chilean voices born in the 70s and 80s.”

Currently, he serves as the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Architecture at Universidad Austral de Chile in Valdivia.

Reflecting on the premiere, Felipe Pinto d’Aguiar said:

“It was a true pleasure to hear the premiere of my piece performed by a wonderful group of musicians who delivered an outstanding concert. Although I completed the composition on the last day of December 2024, it truly came to life during this performance. I hope the group makes it a regular part of their repertoire, allowing more people to experience it and inspiring other accordionists to perform it in the future.”

The sheet music (score and parts) will be available for purchase soon.