“La Tramuntana” (the tramontana is the name of the north wind which blows in the Mediterranean region) is a suite of four studies for chamber orchestra. It was composed in 1993 as a commission from the Figueres Youth Orchestra. Since then, this piece has been played by student string orchestras in Italy and in France.

The first movement, “Legato”, is based on the slow continuity of ascending and descending tensions and relaxations found in the melody line.

By way of contrast, the second movement, “Staccato”, invites the players to focus on precise, energetic bowing, both in the forte and the piano sections.

The third movement, “En sordina”, concentrates on seeking quality and expressiveness in tone.

The last movement, evoking the gusts of the Tramontana wind, is intended to help the players master their “glissando” technique.

Narcís Bonet