Below are my works for BAND, organized in chronological order. All of them are available for purchase by clicking on GO TO ONLINE STORE. Scores and parts will be delivered as password-protected PDFs in PDF, within the next 24 hours after purchasing. Questions? Contact Ruben here:
Los Tambores de Esteban - Concertino for Percussion and Band (2022)
Length: 8'15''
Instrumentation: 4 Percussion soloists - Pic - Fl 1/2 - Ob 1/2 - Bsn 1/2 - Cl 1/2/3 - Bs. Cl. - A.Sx 1/2 - Tn Sx - Bar. Sx - tpt. 1/2/3 - Hn. 1/2 - Tbon. 1/2 - Bs. Tbon - Euph - Tuba - CB.
Difficulty: 4.5
For four percussion soloists and a symphonic band, inspired by traditional Colombian rhythms. It uses elements from aleatoric music and post-tonal harmony.
Stars and Stripes "a la Colombiana" (2022)
Length: 4'40''
Instrumentation: Pic - Fl 1/2 - Ob 1/2 - Bsn 1/2 - Cl 1/2/3 - Bs. Cl. - A.Sx 1/2 - Tn Sx - Bar. Sx - Tpt. 1/2/3 - Hon. 1/2 - Tbon. 1/2 - Bs. Tbon - Euph - Tuba - CB Perc Timpani + 1/2/3/4.
Difficulty: 3.5
This is an arrangement of the famous march Stars and Stripes Forever by John Phillip Sousa, in the style of Colombian cumbia. Commissioned by Dr. Thomas Verrier. Premiered by the Venezuelan American Wind Orchestra.
Latinoamérica Despierta (2020)
Length: 7'40''
Instrumentation: Pic - Fl 1/2 - Ob 1/2 - Bsn 1/2 - Eb Cl (opt.) - Cl 1/2/3 - Bs. Cl. - C/Bs. Cl (opt.) - A.Sx 1/2 - Tn Sx - Bar. Sx - Cnt 1/2/3 - Tpt. 1/2 - Hn. 1/2/3/4 - Tbon. 1/2 - Bs. Tbon - Euph - Tuba - CB (opt.) - Perc: 1/2/3/4/5
Difficulty: 4.5
Piece inspired by the social protest movements that emerged in the mid-twentieth century in several Latin American countries and that represented a harsh counterweight to the dominant and oppressive measures coming from the government and the upper class against the popular classes. The work was commissioned by the Metropolitan Winds in Boston to celebrate the band's 50th anniversary.
El Solitario: Tone Poem for Wind Band (2019)
Length: 14'
Instrumentation: Pic - Fl 1/2 - Ob - Ob2/E.H. - Bsn 1/2 - Eb Cl. - Cl 1/2/3 - Bs. Cl. - A.Sx 1/2 - Tn Sx - Bar. Sx - Cnt. 1/2/3 - Tpt. 1/2 - Hn. 1/2/3/4 - Tbon. 1/2 - Bs. Tbon - Euph - Tuba - C.B. - Pno - Perc 1/2/3/4/5/6.
Difficulty: 5
Composed for Rubén's final DMA conducting recital at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
A Bailar la Cumbia (2018)
Length: 4'
Instrumentation: Fl - Ob - Bsn - Cl 1/2 - Bs. Cl - A. Sx 1/2, Tn Sax - Bar. Sax - Tpt 1/2 - Hn - Tbon 1/2 - Bar - Tuba - Timp - Perc 1/2/3/4
Difficulty: 3
Great choice as an concert closer, or to be included in a diversity program, as well as to encourage young musicians to play in the style of Colombia Cumbia.
Tríptico para Flauta y Banda de Vientos (2010)
Length: 14'30 ''
Instrumentation: Solo Fl - Fl - Ob - Bsn - Cl 1/2/3 - Bs. Cl - A. Sx 1/2 - Tn Sax - Bar. Sax - Tpt 1/2/3 - Hn 1/2 - Tbon 1 / 2/3 - Bar - Tuba - Double Bass - Timp - Perc 1/2/3/4
Difficulty: Solo 5 / Band 4
Organized in three movements, this is an excellent concert piece for solo flute and band inspired by various rhythms of the Colombian musical tradition such as Fandango, Cumbia, Currulao, Mapalé, Danza, and Guabina. The piece offers technical challenges for the soloist due to the high rhythmic intensity and the use of various languages, as well as some extended techniques.
1st Movement
2nd Movement
3rd Movement
Los Caminos de Lengerke (2010)
Length: 12'30 ''
Instrumentation: Picc - Fl 1/2 - Ob - Bsn - Cl 1/2/3 - Bs. Cl - A. Sx 1/2 - Tn Sax 1 - Bar. Sax - Tpt 1/2/3 - Hn 1/2 / 3 - Tbon 1/2/3 - Euf - Tuba - Double Bass - Timp - Perc 1/2/3/4
Difficulty: 4.5
Tone poem inspired by the life of Geo von Lengerke, a German engineer and businessman who arrived in Colombia in the mid-19th century fleeing a murder. The work takes a journey through Lengerke's life from when he left his land, until his death in Zapatoca, Colombia, recreating glorious, dramatic, and tragic moments.
Concertino for Trumpet and Band (2008/2021)
Length: 5'45''
Instrumentation: Solo Tpt - Fl 1 (picc) - Fl 2 - Ob - Bsn - Cl 1/2/3 - Bs. Cl - A. Sx 1/2, Tn Sax - Bar. Sax - Tpt 1/2/3 (3rd opt) - Hn 1/2 - Tbon 1/2/3 (3rd opt) - Euph - Tuba - Timp - Perc 1/2/3/4 (4th opt.)
Difficulty: Soloist 4 / Band 3.5
A great choice to feature the trumpet player's abilities with a moderate demand in the band accompanient. The piece includes Colombian rhythms of pasillo, joropo, and mapalé.
Montaña Mágica (2007)
Length: 4'
Instrumentation: Picc - Fl 1/2 - Ob - Bsn - Cl 1/2/3 - Bs. Cl (opt) - A. Sx 1/23 (3rd opt), Tn Sax 1/2 (2nd opt) - Bar. Sax - Tpt 1/2/3 - Hn 1/2 - Tbon 1/2/3 - Bar - Tuba - Contrabass (opt) - Timp - Perc 1/2/3/4
Difficulty: 3.5
A great choice to be included in a diversity program, or about exotic places, or in general to introduce intermediate/advanced groups to the styles of Colombian bambuco and caña.