Basque Children Overture

Francisco de Madina (1907-1972), also known as Aita Madina, received his education in Bordeaux and was ordained a priest in 1929. He served his first parish in Buenos Aires and became director of a school in Cuidad de Salta. During this time, he began to develop as a composer and started to premiere his work in Buenos Aires. His primary influences included Debussy, Ravel and Prokofiev. In 1955, he moved to New York, where he founded a residence for the Lateran Canons Regular. His music began to enjoy performances in America and Spain. The Basque Children Overture, a perfect header for a family-themed concert, amuses with playful snippets of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, march-like rhythms, and a whirling finish. Instrumentation: 2+Picc.2+EH.2.2: 4.3.3.1: Timp.Perc(3): Hp.Clst: Str(9-8-7-6-5 in set).