Berkshire Choral International
June 30, 2024
In June 13-16, 2024, Diana presented a weekend-long choral workshop titled Crossing South of the Border as part of Berkshire Choral International at Bard College in Simon's Rock, MA.
Blog
Latest announcements and articles
Clark College Concert Choir Winter Performance, with a World Premier
February 23, 2024
VANCOUVER, WA — The Clark College Concert Choir and Chamber Choir under the direction of Dr. Jacob Funk, present their Winter Concert on Saturday, March 16, 2024, 7:30 pm at First United Methodist Church, 401 E 33rd St, Vancouver, WA. The admission is free and open to the public. Donations to the...
From Folk Song to Choral Literature
November 20, 2021
Diana presented a workshop for the Amateur Music Network. Enjoy this excerpt from the workshop “Folk Song to Choral Literature”. Native American, Spanish, and African influences combine to create new forms of music in Latin America. The tri-cultural heritage of the region is reflected in its musical...
Festejo - Debut Video
August 1, 2021
You’re invited to watch the debut video of Festejo performed by the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru Women Chorus, under the direction of Isabel Salas in collaboration with the Towson University Women Choir.
Latin American music should be part of the choral canon like other choral music, and should not be pigeonholed. To me, all music is multicultural.
-Diana V. Sáez
Compositions
Recent compositions
Temporal
SATB
Composed by Diana Sáez and Suzzette Ortiz, Temporal is a traditional plena from Puerto Rico. Plena is an Afro-Puerto Rican rhythm that blends melodic and rhythmic elements from Spanish and African musical influences. Temporal means storm, but it can also refer to the hurricanes that are common...
Festejo
SSA
Based on Afro-Peruvian songs, Festejo is a festive and rhythmic celebration. The title invokes Peru’s most popular folk rhythm which was brought to life by salves who were working in the mines and fields of Peru. Composer Diana Saez has become well known as someone who brings authentic style to th...
Plena
SSA
The Plena is an early twentieth-century Afro-Puerto Rican rhythm that was also a popular musical form among sugar-cane workers. The rhythm has its roots in West Africa, and in Diana Sáez’s engaging original work, the singers establish the rhythm in a clever introduction. The piano accompaniment em...
Yemaya
SATB
Yemaya is considered the Ocean Mother Goddess in Santería, an Afro-Caribbean religion practiced around the world. This chant melody was brought to America from West Africa and is meant to be sung as a meditation. Pedal notes should sound like a drone that supports the melody. It all leads to an experience for the singers and listeners that is fully grounded in its origins and ethnic roots.