Made up of tightly woven riffs, El Muro suggests a variety of Latin American musical styles, from the Colombian cumbia, Peruvian huayno, Mexican son, and the Cuban montuno. Venezuelan-born composer Ricardo Lorenz personalizes these styles, incorporating them seamlessly without compromising the underlying musical logic of his work. Conceptually, the piece challenges the notion of both physical and imaginary walls which divide and oppress people. The resulting drama that plays out in the piece portrays these rich musical traditions confronting “the wall.” (Grade 6) Dur: 12:00