Edward McGuire: Fountain of Tears - Homage on the Death of Lorca [download]

Work for flute and guitar, composed in 1992.

“Fountain of Tears was commissioned (with Scottish Arts Council funding) by Robert Phillips especially for the Lorca Duo. He requested that the piece commemorate Lorca, the poet playwright (who played guitar and piano as well) who was seized and murdered by fascists at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936. The piece takes us on a poignant journey back to the very place where the poet died - Fuente Grande in north-east Granada. The title comes from the 11th-century Arabic name for the pool with its natural fountain, Ain-ad-damar (lit. 'eye of the tears'). It was more vigorous then, and several Arabic poets wrote in its praise. It is strange that a poet would be killed there and lie in an unmarked grave in the area.” - Edward McGuire