LOBO DE RÍO

Painter Antonio Fernandez was born in Goián on the 6th of February, 1882 and died in the same village on the 20th of November, 1970. Throughout his life he developed an extensive and interesting body of imagery, which unfolded across three cities: Santos (Brazil), Antícoli (Italy) and his native Goián. It was in Goián, in his final artistic phase, where he painted the portrait entitled "Uncle Cila, Wolf of the River" (in the 1950's). This important work, one of the artist's favourites, captures uncle Cila, resident of Goián, at the end of a day's work of fishing in the Miño River.

The symphonic poem "Wolf of the River" describes the composer's own interpretation of the painting and as a result the score is divided into three sections. The first, which lasts from the start to measure 71, describes the Miño River, its currents, its tides, its flora, its fauna. All of which hangs from the arpeggio of Fa major in its second inversion. The middle section of the work, "Uncle Cila", describes the central focus of the painting, a portrait of Uncle Cila, Wolf of the River. The development of the arpeggio from the same theme that anchored the first section gives us a sense of tranquillity, kindness, humility and hard work, the same feelings the painting inspires in the composer. The final part of the score, "The Casteliño", makes reference to the most dangerous part of the Miño River, an area known for its strong currents and whirlpools. This turbulence inspires the additive rhythms and polyrhythms used by the composer in this final section, which nonetheless still rely on the theme used in the first. The piece ends with a coda that represents the return of peace on the Miño River and the return of Uncle Cila, Wolf of the River, to the fishery.