El Partenón (The Parthenon) - World Premiere at the XXVIII COMA’26 Festival - Juan Luis Madrigal

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On November 12, 2026, the Trío Fernández-Apellániz will premiere his piece El Partenón (The Parthenon), written for B-flat clarinet, cello, and piano as part of the XXVIII Madrid Contemporary Music Festival (COMA'26).

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Technical specifications

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• Title: El Partenón

• Instrumentation: Clarinete en si bemol, violonchelo y piano

• Duration: 9 minutes

• Year of composition: 2026

• Dedication: To David Apellániz, Luis Fernández-Castelló y Carlos Apellániz

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​The Concept: Architecture, Symbolism, and Narrative Between the Lyrical and the Epic

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El Partenón stems from a fascination with classical architecture, conceived as a dialogue between ideal geometry and restrained emotion. The work operates on a dual level: on one hand, a solid formal architecture grounded in balanced proportions; on the other, a discourse of deep sensitivity, where technical rigor is placed entirely at the service of expressiveness.

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The piece weaves together lyrical and epic elements, reflecting how the majestic structure of the temple has managed to remain partially standing over the centuries, defying the passage of time, erosion, and the vicissitudes of history. This narrative also incorporates the tragic milestone of the monument's historical partial explosion, embodied in the score through high-tension instrumental techniques that momentarily fracture the stability of the harmonic fabric.

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The promotional artwork representing the work is closely tied to the central section of the piece (Largo ieratico, solenne e mistico). Characterized by profound expressive restraint, this passage portrays the original splendor of the building and the imposing presence of the grand statue of Athena—goddess of wisdom, technique (techne), and strategy—in its pristine state prior to the temple's degradation and destruction.

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Structurally, the piece traces an arch of refined symmetry: the initial piano melody reemerges at the conclusion of the composition, closing the cycle with classical proportion. Harmonically, it draws upon the Dorian mode and, most notably, a modal subset consisting of the pitches D, G, A, and C, matching the four open strings of the cello.

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Thanks to this polyhedral approach, the composition unfolds multiple layers of interpretation: it can be experienced as a historical narrative of the monument or as a psychological and sociological analysis of a restrained, strategic personality, designed to engage specialized audiences and the general public alike.

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Instrumental Writing: Blending, Halos, and Register Expressiveness

 

The interplay among the clarinet, cello, and piano is driven by a constant search for timbral fusion, configuring a unified sound organism:

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• Fusion and Resonance: The writing intertwines the three instruments, producing subtle halo and acoustic shadow effects. Notable are the acoustic halos with which the clarinet and cello envelope the piano melody, both in its opening statement and in its symmetrical return at the end.

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• The B-flat Clarinet: Provides fluidity of line and timbral flexibility, moving from delicate pianissimo passages in extreme registers to moments of incisive brilliance.

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• The Cello: Serves as the lyrical and resonant core of the ensemble. Its writing expressively exploits both its extreme high and low registers and the natural resonance of its open strings, bestowing immense dramatic weight upon the discourse.

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• The Piano: Forms the foundation and structural frame of the piece. It sustains the timbral mass, alternating textural delicacy with a rhythmic force evoking the solidity of stone.

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Performers and Concert Information

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The work will be premiered by the Trío Fernández-Apellániz, one of the leading chamber ensembles in the contemporary music scene:

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• Luis Fernández-Castelló, B-flat clarinet

• David Apellániz, cello

• Carlos Apellániz, piano

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The event is organized by the Madrid Association of Composers (Asociación Madrileña de Compositores y Compositoras - AMCC). Concert details, schedule, access, and location can be found on the official festival page:

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​👉 View concert details and program on AMCC / Festival COMA'26