Title: Okaerinasai

Instrumentation: Clarinet and Classical Guitar

Performers: Luisa M. Raigosa and Jorge I. Ramirez

Year(s) of composition (and revision as appropriate): 2016

For the composer

· Preferred name for the body of the program: J.I. Ramirez Marin
· Year of birth: 1995
· Name of current institution: University of Delaware (Udel)

Bio:
Colombian composer and arranger born in 1995 in the city of Florencia, Caqueta. In 2012 he
begins a Bachelor in Music degree at "Conservatorio del Tolima". Composing lessons
include composer Adrian Camilo Ramírez (2014), 20th century harmony lessons with
conductor and arranger Sergio Andrés Sánchez (2015) and composing lessons with
conductor and composer Andrés Mauricio Acosta (2016).

Jorge Ramírez has conducted and had his arrangements performed by the Conservatorio
del Tolima Symphonic Wind Band and Jazz Band. In 2016 he was hired by the Culture
Department of Cota to make two arrangements for Symphonic Band and Choir to be played
at the II National Festival of Wind Bands`. The Municipal Wind Band of Cota won the prize
for Best Original Piece in said contest with Jorge´s arragement of "Homenaje a Colombia", a
piece written by Carlos Alberto Triviño.

In 2017 Jorge received a schollarship for graduate studies and is currently studying in the
MMus program at the University of Delaware under the guidance of Dr. Jennifer Margaret
Barker.

Program notes:
Okaerinasai is based on the Colombian folk genre of bambuco, which is a dance rhythm
characterized by polymetric phrasing that juxtaposes 6/8 and ¾ meters. Other important
elements include ties over bar lines and the absence of the downbeat in phrases.
Okaerinasai is in variation of binary form ([:AA’B:]A’’Coda). Phrases are constructed in the
Colombian folk tradition, while harmonies lean more towards modality and pantonality. This
piece was written in 2017 for Luisa as a thank you gift for her help with Ramírez’ application
to the University of Delaware. Ramirez wrote this piece as a memento of Colombia so she
could feel closer to her home, family and music; because of their shared passion for
languages, this piece carries the name okaerinasai, which is Japanese for “welcome home”.