SONDOS,
harp duo
Founded in Mexico in 1999 by Janet Paulus and Mercedes Gómez, SONDOS dúo de arpas was created from the experiences of both harpists during their twenty continuous years of professional work as soloists, members of other duos and chamber ensembles, and as orchestral harpists in various countries.
Their decision to share in the delights of chamber music together stems from the richness of the different cultures which have marked them as human beings and as musicians.
Since it’s founding, SONDOS embraces a vast repertoire which includes original music of all periods for two harps, duo transcriptions of works originally written for other instruments, and contemporary pieces from Latin America with a special interest in interdisciplinary adventures of all kinds. In July 2000, SONDOS recorded “ALMÍBAR” (Urtext), it’s first CD – a collection of XIX Century Mexican piano music transcribed by the duo. In 2002, it represented Mexico at the World Harp Congress in Geneva Switzerland with this repertoire.
From 2002 on, it has presented, with actresses Julieta Ortiz or Leticia Cavazos, ¡CUÁNTA CUERDA! Viaje por la historia del arpa. This educational recital is specially conceived to bring joy to children and has been presented in many Mexican cities.
In January and February of 2003, the duo premiered, with actress Aracelia Guerrero, “NIÑAS DE LA GUERRA, obra para dos arpistas y actriz” by the playwright and theater director Berta Hiriart. This interdisciplinary work included 20th Century compositions and was commissioned by the Festival “Música y Escena”, for young audiences.
On May 31 and June 1 of 2003 the duo performed the Mexican premiere of the Jean Francaix Concerto for Two Harps and Strings during the orchestral season of the UNAM Philharmonic.
SONDOS gave a master-class at the University of Bloomington, Indiana. There it presented pieces written for two harps by Mexican composer Armando Luna which were dedicated to Janet and Mercedes. These pieces were recorded in a CD album called CARNAVAL (Urtext).
In July of 2005 SONDOS represented Mexico at the World Harp Congress in Dublin, Ireland, performing pieces for two harps by Mexican composer Armando Luna.
In July of 2006 SONDOS represented Mexico at the 37th National Conference of the American Harp Society in San Francisco, California; in the Museo Forte in Copacabana, the Museo da República in Rio de Janeiro and in the VI Latin American Harp Encounter in Vale do Café, Brazil.
In October of that same year they premiered a program of new works for two harps by composers Gerardo Dirié (Argentina), Pablo Ortiz (Argentina), José Enrique Guzmán (Mexico), Hywel Davies (Great Britain), Iván Ferrer (Mexico), Carlos Plaza (Venezuela), Armando Luna (Mexico) and Martín Zalba (Spain).
In October 2007 they received a grant from the program of Co-Inversions of the National Fund for Culture and the Arts (FONCA) to record their third CD of works by contemporary Latin American composers. The CD “ARPEO” came out in December of 2008 and was presented at the 2nd International Harp Festival in February of 2009.
In May 2010 SONDOS presented the world premiere of a Concerto for Two Harps by Mexican composer Armando Luna, with conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto and the National Symphony Orchestra in Mexico City. In July the duo presented the world premiere of DOS DALIAS, concerto for two harps, guitar and strings by Gerardo Tamez, commissioned by Pat and Jim Wooster for the 39th Conference of the American Harp Society, held in Tacoma, Washington.
In 2012 SONDOS presented their new CD DOS DALIAS with music for two harps and other instruments, including pieces by Latin American composers Gabriela Ortiz, José Francisco Cortés, Gerardo Dirié and Gerardo Tamez.
The Concerto for two harps and orchestra by Armando Luna was performed by SONDOS again in 2013 with the Orquesta Filarmónica de la Ciudad de México conducted by José Areán.