Description
The Unknown Soldier is a concerto for euphonium and orchestra composed by Ricardo Mollá and dedicated to international soloist Bastien Baumet, professor at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Lyon. This piece was commissioned by the Spanish Association of Tubas and Euphoniums (AETYB) and premiered with the Valencia Orchestra under the baton of maestro Andrés Valero at the Palau de la Música on July 28, 2025.
The composition references the figure of the Unknown Soldier, a monument that honors soldiers who died in war and whose remains have not been identified. The idea of the unknown soldier emerged after World War I, when many soldiers died in battle and their bodies were never recovered or identified. In response to this tragedy, monuments were created to honor those who gave their lives for their country and whose remains were never found.
This piece aims to highlight the figure of the unknown soldier as a universal symbol of sacrifice and bravery. In that sense, through the three movements of the concerto, the music tells one of the many anonymous stories of soldiers who gave their lives in the hope of a better future. The narrative is set in one of the most representative war zones of World War II: Normandy and the entire coast of Le Havre.
Year of composition
2023
Movements
Three movements:
I. Battle
II. Resurrection
III. The Untold Story
Approximate duration
18 minutes
Instrumentation
Woodwinds:
3 Fl. (Picc. (I)), 2 Ob., 2 Cl. in Bb, 2 Bssn.
Brass:
3 Trpt. in Bb, 4 Hn. (I-II, III-IV), 3 Tbn. (2 Tenor, 1 Bass), 1 Euph. (soloist), Tuba
Double bass (optional)
Strings
Timpani and 3 percussion parts:
- Percussion I: Marimba, Crotales, Glockenspiel, Vibraphone, Gong, Cymbals, Wind Chimes, Suspended Cymbal, Xylophone
- Percussion II: Bass Drum, Tambourine, Suspended Cymbal, Sleigh Bells, Triangle, Gong, Tubular Bells, Vibraphone, Claves, Temple Blocks, Snare Drum, Cymbals, Tenor Drums
- Percussion III: Snare Drum, Bongos, Suspended Cymbal, Triangle, Cymbals, Tubular Bells, Claves, Wind Chimes, Castanets, Tenor Drums
Harp (or Piano)
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