muerte en una tarde de verano — Sergio Díaz De Rojas

MUERTE EN UNA TARDE DE VERANO

ALBUM · LP/CD/DIGITAL · 2023
NETTWERK MUSIC GROUP
Amanecer (Prefacio) 4:58
Flores secas en un jarrón hecho a mano 2:36
Maracuyá/Barranco 2:45
Nuestra caja de postales y otros recuerdos 3:54
Holding her is where I learned forgiveness 2:10
Canción para Otto y Elsa 3:17
El gato escondido entre las plantas 4:01
Breve ensayo sobre la soledad 3:06
Promesas que se disuelven entre las nubes 5:09
Una copa de vino sobre el piano 3:58
Atardecer a orillas del mar 3:24

Music by Sergio Díaz De Rojas
Lyrics, voice and violoncello by Lo-Fang
Field recordings by Jakob Lindhagen
Mastered by Gonzalo Lasheras

Photography by Tiago Almança
Art direction by Miriam Serrano
Design and layout by Celia Bayo

Sergio Díaz De Rojas' second album, Muerte en una tarde de verano, is a poignant meditation on the impermanence of life, infused with personal history and the weight of loss. Raised in a family steeped in music, Sergio’s journey began at an early age, guided by his great aunt Elsa, who introduced him to the piano and the timeless works of Bach and Chopin. This familial legacy was both a gift and a burden, especially after the tragic loss of his grandfather, a celebrated Peruvian musician, who took his own life when Sergio was still young. This event, though distant in years, became the emotional undercurrent for this album.

Muerte en una tarde de verano is not merely a collection of compositions; it is a deeply personal exploration of mortality, seen through the lens of Sergio’s reflections on his own life and the lives of those he has loved. The album’s title, translating to Death in a Summer’s Afternoon, encapsulates the fleeting nature of time and the quiet inevitability of endings. Inspired by a series of events—including his mother's life-threatening surgery and his renewed contemplation of his grandfather's music—Sergio channels these experiences into a work that is as much about living as it is about dying.

Structured as a loose concept album, Muerte en una tarde de verano narrates the final day of a life, from dawn to dusk. Beginning with Amanecer (Prefacio), the music gently awakens the listener to a world that is both familiar and transient. The tracks that follow are reflective of ordinary moments—drinking coffee, playing with a cat—that are rendered extraordinary by the awareness that they could be one’s last. These simple acts are juxtaposed with pieces like Promesas que se disuelven entre las nubes—a lament for the unfulfilled dreams and missed opportunities that accompany the finality of life.

The centerpiece of the album, Holding her Is where I learned forgiveness, stands out not only as the first vocal track in Sergio’s discography but also as a testament to the healing power of love. Featuring the haunting voice and cello of American singer-songwriter Lo-Fang, the piece is dedicated to Sergio’s partner, Seraphina. This theme of love as a redemptive force continues in Nuestra caja de postales y otros recuerdos, a piece inspired by the couple’s shared experiences and the postcards collected during their travels.

Muerte en una tarde de verano is also a visual album, with each of the eleven tracks accompanied by a video that enhances the narrative. The visual component is as integral to the album as the music itself, offering a deeper layer of meaning and connection. Whether it’s the reverb-laden echoes of Breve ensayo sobre la soledad or the serene imagery of El gato escondido entre las plantas, the album’s visuals are designed to immerse the listener in the emotional landscape Sergio has created.

The album’s closing track, Atardecer a orillas del mar, brings the day—and the album—to a quiet end, with a sense of acceptance rather than sorrow. The use of reverb and sonic decay mirrors the fading light of the setting sun, symbolizing the end of a life well-lived.

Muerte en una tarde de verano is a profound and introspective work that captures the delicate balance between life and death, love and loss. It is a reflection on the small moments that make life meaningful, and a reminder of the fragility of existence. Through his minimalist compositions and evocative storytelling, Sergio Díaz De Rojas has created an album that resonates with the quiet beauty of a summer’s end, where every note carries the weight of a life’s worth of memories.