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Simeon Valentinov, a musician of Bulgarian origin who currently plays in the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra (OFJ), has lived “practically” half his life abroad and more than a decade in our country; now, his instrument is the “rod” trombone -different from the piston trombone that we see in northern music bands- and, he comments, “in my country it often happened to me that, as a child, carrying my instrument on the way between classes and my house, people asked me what I had in the case (they thought of a violin, perhaps), and it was a trombone”.

Valentinov, as his anecdote suggests, comes from a family of professional musicians, “who have made music their career; my father plays the trombone and an older brother who also plays it; I -naturally- play it, I always liked it and it called my attention. Growing up, I was something of a trombone nerd, my world was the instrument, I didn't listen to popular music but world solo trombonists, who were my idols."

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In this way, the instrumentalist establishes, “little by little, my idea of the beautiful sound of the trombone was formed; because if a child or a beginner picks up the instrument and tries to play it, an unpleasant sound will come out. Perhaps the important thing is to think about how to recognize that ideal sound of the instrument, perhaps listening to one of the trombone masters”.

Now, “for any instrument of a philharmonic orchestra there is a repertoire of concerts”, highlights Valentinov, “which are accompanied by orchestra or piano pieces, even for trombones the repertoire is enormous”; and despite this they don't know much about each other, but if a person has doubts, it is enough to find out on the internet “about the basic instruments of the classical orchestra, if he is interested, of course”.

The experience in this country

With little more than four years in the OFJ, the Bulgarian musician was previously in the Sinaloa Symphony Orchestra of the Arts (OSSLA) for eight years, “a very young orchestra, which began as a small ensemble. Here the orchestra is bigger (it has more members) and its sound is more 'full', and in my opinion there are times when it sounds like the best in Mexico (and one of the best in Latin America).

As a musician, says Valentinov, “when I arrived I was impressed by the level of the orchestra; I have no more interest than my job and art, which is to play the trombone, and it seems to me that its sound -of the OFJ- is world-class. If we talk about professional growth, here I can achieve it more than anywhere else and feel satisfied with my work”.

In this sense, says the trombonist, José Luis Castillo is the third director of the orchestra in what he has been a member of the ensemble, "but I have never been in much communication with the directors, I do not seek to get into the framework of politics, which always exists in any institution. What interests me is music.”

TO KNOW

This Saturday at Expo Guadalajara

After a participation in the orchestra ensemble that performed the pieces of the last program (which was played on February 24 and 27) that enhanced the brass section -the fanfares, for example-, what comes for the performer is the concert of “Final Fantasy”, based on the music of Nobuo Uematsu, directed by Arnie Roth on Saturday, March 5 at 8:00 p.m. at Expo Guadalajara, and where they will play pieces “in which there are many metals”.

Finally, Valentinov details, we must take into account that “a brass instrument cannot play as long as a string or keyboard instrument, simply physiology plays a determining role, the effort required does not allow it. This coming Saturday show is heavy, but that's not a complaint because it will also be fun."