La Migala Juan Jose Arreola
Migala runs freely by the house, but my capacity of horror does not diminish.
The day which Beatriz and I entered that impure booth at the street fair, I realized that the repulsive, noxious animal, was the most atrocious thing that destiny could hold for me. Even worse than the scorn and pity that suddenly shines in those clear eyes.
Days later I returned to buy the migala, and the surprised saltimbanqui gave me some information about its habits and strange feeding ways. Then I understood that what I had in hands was, once and for all, the total threat, the ultimate dose of terror that my spirit could handle. I remember my vacillating steps, while returning home I felt the light and dense weight of the spider, that weight which I could certainly distinguish, the one of the wood box in which I carried it, as if they were two completely different weights: the one of the innocent wood and the one of the impure and poisonous animal that pulled me as a definitive load. Within that box, I carried the personal hell that I would settle at home to annul to the other one, the great hell of the men.
The memorable night in which I let loose the migala in my apartment, marks the beginning of an indescribable life, as I saw it run like a crab and hide under the sofa. Since then, each one of the moments that I possess, has been followed by the spider’s steps, which fills the house with its invisible presence.
Every night I shiver waiting for the mortal bite. Often, I awake with the body frozen, tense, immovable, because the dream has created for me, precisely, the tickling steps of the spider on my skin, its indefinable weight, and its entrails-like consistency. Nevertheless, I always wake up. I am alive and my soul is uselessly prepared and perfected.
There are days in which I think migala has disappeared, that it is lost or have died. But I do not do anything to verify that. I always leave it to chance to put me in front of it again, while leaving the bath, or undressing before I throw myself in bed. Sometimes the silence at night brings me the echo of its steps, which I have learned to hear, although I know they are imperceptible.
Many days I find the food that I have left the previous night intact. When it disappears, I do not know if it has been devoured by migala or some other innocent guest in the house. I have also started to think that perhaps I am being a victim of a fraud and that I am at the mercy of a fake migala. Perhaps the saltimbanqui has deceived me, making me pay a high price for an inoffensive and repugnant bug.
But this is in fact irrelevant, because I have consecrated to migala with certainty my postponed death. In the sharpest hours of insomnia, when I lose myself in conjectures and nothing calms me, migala usually visits me. It moves awkwardly by the room trying to climb the walls with clumsiness. It stops, raises the head and moves the palps, seeming to smell, anxiously, an invisible companion.
Then, shaken in my loneliness, trapped by the small monster, I remember that in other time I used to dream with Beatriz and her impossible company.
THE END
Migala: Spanish term for a giant tarantula Translation: The composer
Notes
extreme pressure ( "scratchy"sound without any pitch)
bowing over the bridge (pure white noise). In addition, this effect is notated with square noteheads:
heavy pressure ( "scratchy" sound with some pitch)
normal pressure
damp the sound w/fingernails (a "rattling" sound will be produced)
Bartok pizz
Tap on the body of the instrument with both hands fingertips. This tremolo should be played by bouncing swiftly between the thumb and both medium and anular fingers, having the wrist as free as possible.
1/4 tone inflections
q = 60
for string quartetLa Migala
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Violoncello
Impulsively
ff
sul pont.
sul pont.
ff
ord.
pp
sul pont.
ff
ff
p
f possibile
"... in the sharpest hours of insomnia, when I lose myself in conjectures and nothing calms me down, migala usually visits me..."
silenzio assolutoca 5 sec.
Mauricio García de la Torre (2007)
From afar
n.
ord.non vibrato
Juan Jose Arreola
ff
sul pont.
p
�
f pp
pp
mf p
ff
p
f possibile
ca 5 sec.
n.
ord.non vibrato
mp pp
sub
ff
Tremolo la chitarra
pp
mp
pp
pp
ff
pp
irregular tremolo
p
f
regular tremolo
possibile
(take bow)
ca 5 sec.
n.
ord.non vibrato
mp pp subito
ff
pp
regular tremolo
mf
pp
irregular tremolo
mf
regular tremolo
p
p
irregular tremolo
f
regular tremolo
possibile
(take bow)
ca 5 sec.
n.
arcoord.non vibrato
p
10
mp
n.
f
sul pont.
spiccato
p
f sub.p
f possibile
5:4 6:4 3
f
pp
subito n.
f
sul pont.
pp
f
sub.p
f possibile
3
3
f
pp
subito n.
sul pont.
f
pp
f
sub.p
f possibile
3
3
f
pp
subito n.
regular tremolo
p
mp
irregular tremolo
Fingering without bowing
f
sfz
mf
f possibile
5:4 6:4
q = 7018
maliciously at the beginning
sul pont.
ppp
pp
p mf pp subito
3:2 6:43:2
sul pont.
ppp
p
6:4
3
3:2 3:26:4
3:2
sul pont.
pp
p
pp
6:4
5:4
6:4
sul pont.
pp
7:4 p
5:4 3:2
2
20
p
poco a poco ordinario
pp
mp
mf
mp
ord.
mf
6:4 5:4 6:4
3:2 6:4
p
poco a poco ordinario
mp
pp
p
ord.
mf
pp
3:2 3:2 6:4
3:2
6:4
poco a poco ordinario
p pp
ord.
mfpp
mp
6:4
5:4 7:4 5:4 6:4
p
7:4
poco a poco ordinario
pp
3:2
mp
pp
mf
ord.
mf pp
p
5:4
3:2 6:4
7:4
3:2 6:4
23
Gradually ... more ... assertive...
ord.
f
f
3:2
mp
poco a poco sul pont
p
sul pont.
ord.
f
p
6:43:2
mp
poco a poco sul pont
mf
f
sul pont.
ord.
f
p
6:4 6:4
7:4 7:4
poco a poco sul pont
p
p
sul pont.
3:2
6:4 6:4
3
25
p mf
f
ff
mf
f
ff
6
3
mf
f
f
ff
6:4
6
3
ord.
mf
f
f
ff
6:4 6
3
27
mp
f
ff
fff
ff
fff
Brutal
ffff
3
6:4
33
5
6
mp
f
ff
fff
ff
fff
ffff
3
6:4 6 35
6
mp
f
ff
fff
ff
fff
ffff
3
5:46
3
35
6
mp
ff
fff
ff
fff
ffff
3
3 35 6
4
h = 7632
Like a crazy ritornello
f
fff
3
f
fff
3
f
fff
5 5
3
3
f
3
fff
35
5
3 3
37
ff
mf
ff
mf
ff
ff
mf
ff
ff
5
3
mf
ff
mf
3
ff
mf
ff
mf
5
33
5
42
mf
f
p
ff
p
mf
f
p
ff
p
5
ff
mf
f
p
L.H.
ff
arco
3 3 3 3
3
ff
mf
f
p
L.H.
ff
arco
3
3
p
48
f
ff
mf
ff
sub. p
p
f
ff
mf
ff
sub. p
p
p
ff
mf
ff
L.H.
f
f
ff
mf
ff
L.H.
f
6
62
(p)
mp
f
f ff
pp subito
(p)
mp
f
f
ff
pp subito
(p)
mp
f
f
ff
f
pp
(p)
mp
f
f
ff
f
ff
pp subito
3
66
5 5 5 3 5
pp
5 5 5 5 3 5
pp
3 5 5 5 3 5
5 5 5 5 3 5
8
69
ff
5 5 3 5 5 3 5 5
ff
5 5 3 5 5 5 3 5 5 5
ff
5 5 3 5 5 3 5 5
ff
5 5 3 3 5 5 3 3 5 5
72
fff
ffff
5
fff
ffff
5
fff
ffff
5
fff
ffff
5
9
q = 6077
f
p
pp
Mysteriously
ppp
f
p
pp
ppp
f
p
pp
ppp
f
p
pp
ppp
85
Subito brutale
ff
Curiously...
pizz.
mf
f
3
33 3 3 3
ff
pizz.
mf
3 33 5 5
ff
pizz.
mf
f
5
5 5 6 3 3
5
ff
pizz.
mf
f
3 3
3
3
5
5 5
3
10
89 q = 69
p
arco
pp
come parlando
mp
p
mf subito
p
mf subito
5 53 3 5 5 3 6
p
arco
pp
come parlando
mp
p
mf subito
p
mf subito
3 3 3 3 5 5 3 6
p
3
3
p
3
ff
ff
p
p
ff
f
5 3 3 3 5 53
p
ff
p
pizz.
ff
p
ff
6 6 3 3
93
p
mf
ff subito
silenzio assoluto
3
p
mf
ff subito
3
ff
p
ff
ff
ff
3 5 3
p
ff
ff
ff
5 3 3 3
11
q = 42
97
Garco
Insecure
pp
G G
3
3
p
3 3 3
arcosul pont.
pp
p
3
3
3
3 3
arcosul pont.
pp
p
5 5 5 5
5
pp
pizz.
7:4
7:4
p
7:4
7:4
7:4
7:4
101
q = 60
mp
pp
p
(p)
3
mp
pp
3
ord.
p
(p)
33
3
mp
pp
p
ord.
(p)
mp
pp
7
(pizz.)
(p)
3
12
106
mp
mf
f
3 3
mp
3
mf
f
3
3 33 5
mp
mf
f
3 3 5 5
mp
mf
arco
f
3
3 3 3
5 66
109
Gradually...
ff
gaining ...
momentum ...
fff
5 56 6
7 7 5
ff
fff
5
6 6
7 7
5
ff
fff
6
6 7
9
9
ff
fff
7 7
99
9
13
q =94111
fff
Furioso
sempre
3 3 5
5
5 5 3 3
5
5 5
fff sempre
3
3 6 6 6
6
6 3 3
6
6
6
fff sempre
3
3
3 3
fff sempre
3
33 3 3 3 3
114
fff possibile
5 5 5
5
5 5 3 3
3
3
fff possibile
6 6
6 6 6 6 3 3
3 3
fff possibile
3 3
3
3 3 3 5
fff possibile
3 3
3 33
3
3 3 5
14
117q = 120
(fff)
fff
possibile
p
p
Crazy
ff
pmf subito
f
5
5
3
6 5
(fff)
fff
possibile
p
p ff
p mf subito
5 5 3 6 5
3 33 3
(fff)
fff
possibile
p
p ff
p mf subito
5 3 3 5 5
3 33 3
(fff)
fff
possibile
p
p ff
p mf subito
f
5 3 3 5 5
122
f
fff
5 5
f
fff
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 33
f
fff
3
3
3 3 3
3
3 3 3 3
3 3
f
fff
5 5
15
125
silenzio assoluto
Precipitato
ff
mf
ffmf
ff
mf
ff mf
ff
ff
3 5 55
5 55 3
ff mf
ff
mf ff
mf
ff mf
ff
mf
ff
ff
3
6 6
6 66
6
3
ff
mf
ff mf
ff
mf
ff mf
ff
ff
3 5 5
5
5 5 5
3
ff
mf ff
mf
ff mf
ff
mf
ff
ff
3 6 6
6 6
6 6
3
q =69
129
non vibrato
ff
f
mp
3
p
ff
mp
come parlando
p
3
56 3 3
non vibrato
ff
f
mp
3
p
ff
mp
come parlando
p
3 5 3 3
non vibrato
ff
mp
3
p
ff
mp
pp
3
non vibrato
ff
mp
p
ff
mp
pp
3
16
138
mp
mf
p
mf
mp
p
6 6 3 5 3 73
mp
mf
p
mf
mp
p
6 6 3 5 3 73
3
3p
pp
p
pp
143
q = 80
pp
p
mf
3 3 3
pp
pp
p
3
mf
3
pp
p
3:2
3:2
mf
3
pp
p
mf
3 3 3
17
148
f
*Small noteheads mean that the arrival pitch should be approximate ( no clear pitch ending!)sul pont.
ff
gliss.
5
5 67
f
sul pont.
ff
gliss.
3
6
f
sul pont.
ff
35 6
f
sul pont.
ff
gliss.
3
5
67
151
From afar ...
pp subito
sul tastonon vibrato
3
3
sul tastonon vibrato
pp subito
sul tastonon vibrato
pp subito
3
sul tastonon vibrato
pp subito
18
158
mp
mf
p
mf
mp
mf
3
p
mf
163
q = 69
ord.non vibrato
pp
mp
mf
3 5 6
ord.non vibrato
pp
mp pp
subito
mp
3
5
ord.non vibrato
pp
mp pp subito
mp
mf
3 3
ord.non vibrato
pp
p
mp
mf
3 3 3
19
168
q = 76
f
p subito
Gradually... gaining... excitement...
mf
mf
f
p subito
mf
f
p subito
mf
f
p subito
mf
174
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
20
176q =116
fff
p subito
crazy
f
Insecure
pppp
3
3
7
fff
p subito
f
pp
7
77
fff
p subito
ff
pizz.
pp
3
3
fff
sfz
p subito
ff
come parlando
mp
3 3 3
3
180
3
3
pp
3
3
ppp
Precipitato
fff
3 3
(pp)
7
7
7
fff
7
3
(pp)
3
3
3
3
arco
fff
3 3
3
(mp)
fff
6 5 3
33 3 3
21
184
pp
subito
3
3
3
3
3
3
ff
fff
3
3
6
6
6 3
arco
pp subito
ff
fff
5 5 5 5
5 53
3
3
3
come parlando
mp subito
ff
fff
3 6 3 3 6 6 6 3
pizz.
pp
subito
3
3
3
3
3
ff
arco
fff
arco
3 3 3
189q =132
p subito
ff
p subito
fff
3
6
6
6
33
3
3
p subito
ff
p subito
fff
3 33 3
33
3
3
ff
p subito
fff
3
6
6
6
3 3
ff
p subito
fff
3 3 3 33
3
22
193
pp
ff
f
come parlando
sfz
3
5 3 3
pp
ff
f
come parlando
sfz
3
5 3 3
come parlando
mf
ffff
rhythmic
come parlando
mp
ff
f
come parlando
sfz
3 3 6
3
5
3
3
come parlando
mf
ff
rhythmic
mf
mf
mp
come parlando
ff
f
come parlando
sfz
3
3
3 3 3 6
3
5
3
3
199
fff
subito brutale
pp
subito brutale
fff
3
fff
come parlando
f
mf
mf
fff
3
3 3 5 3
fff
pp
fff
3
3
3
fff
arco
mf
come parlando
mf
fff
53
23
204
come parlando
mp
3 3
come parlando
mp
p
3 3 3 3
p
q = 80211
ppp
from afar...
ppp
3
ppp
3
ppp
pp
ppp
24
q =42218
ppp
from very far away...
pizz.
pp
7:4
7:4
p
7:4
7:4
7:4
mp
7:4
3
pppp
sul pont
pppp
sul pont
pppp
sul pont
pppp
sul pont
223
pitch
ppp
white noise produced from the extremely high register
n.
pp
7
ppp
tap softly on the instrument's body w/ knuckles
pp
3
3
3
f
(*)
possibile
n.
(*) Damp strings with L.H, in order to avoid any sounding pitch
f
(*)
possibile
n.
25