Obsidian Butterfly
Butterfly Player
John Leszczynski, Alto Saxophone
Carlin Ma, Piano
Itzpapalotl (Obsidian Butterfly) was an Aztec warrior goddess who
ruled over the paradise world of Tamoanchan where the gods created the
human race. Itzpapalotl embodies two very different types of
elegance: the sleek power of obsidian, a black volcanic rock, and the
fragility and lightness of a butterfly. This piece tries to capture
the essence of this unique combination.
Itzpapalotl takes on several forms throughout the piece. In the
beginning, the new goddess slowly emerges from a stone cocoon and
opens her black butterfly wings for the first time. After taking
flight, she transforms into her most terrible form: a grotesque figure
with a skeletal head and wings tipped with stone blades. Itzpapalotl
changes between these two forms several times in the piece, and with
her, the same melodic material is transformed from lyrical to fierce
dance-like sections. At the climax of the piece, Itzpapalotl’s main
motive is combined for the first time with all of the other important
melodic material from the piece, as the goddess gathers all her power for one last flight.
Winner of a 2010 Encore Grant from the American Composers Forum to
fund repeat performances.
Winner of the 2008 Indiana University Dean’s Prize for Composition.
Score and Part Purchase: $35
To arrange payment, please contact John Leszczynski. All music will be shipped after full payment is received. Payment can
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$5-10).