Feb – A Flutist's Book of Days

February 3 – Wind-Song by Sidney Lanier

Performed by Olivia Abernathy
Recorded by Jeff Francis

Born on this day in 1842 in Macon, Georgia, Sidney Lanier was a writer and flutist who was interested in exploring the interrelationship among music, poetry, and nature. More well-known for his poetry, he was a professor of literature at The Johns Hopkins University. Lanier wrote “Wind-Song” in 1874 for his audition with conductor Leopold Damrosch in New York. This piece effectively displays the many facets of virtuoso flute playing in a short, one movement format, ideal for an audition setting.

February 9 – Pan by Harald Genzmer

Performed by Jennifer Parker-Harley
Recorded by Jeff Francis

German composer Harald Genzmer was born on this day in 1909. A student of Paul Hindemith, he was especially interested in composing for amateurs and children. His music is known for its expressive character and fine craftsmanship. Genzmer recently passed away in 2007.

Feb, February, Flute Alone

February 19 – Four Pieces for Flute Alone: 2. Caprice by Jindřich Feld

Czech composer Jindrich Feld was born on this day in 1925. His compositions number over two hundred, spanning a wide range of works including chamber music, symphonies, a cantata, and a children’s opera. His works for flute include a concerto written for Jean-Pierre Rampal, a sonata, and the Four Pieces for solo flute. The titles of the Four Pieces are as follows: Méditation, Caprice, Intermède (Hommage à Bartók), and Burlesque. Performed by Jennifer Parker-Harley.

Feb, February, Flute Alone

February 20 – Pearls by Zoltán Gyӧngyӧssy

Recorded by Stacey Russell

Born on this day in 1958, Zoltán Gyӧngyӧssy was a Hungarian composer known for his love of contemporary music. His set of pieces, Pearls, is written for his closest friends. Each “Pearl” is dedicated to a specific person, and is meant to embody the style and persona of that person. Movement 6 is written for prepared flute: half of a cork is inserted into the head joint.

Feb, February, Flute Alone

February 22 – Eight Pieces by Lowell Liebermann

Lowell Liebermann was born on this day in 1961. Beloved by flutists for his many works for the instrument, Liebermann’s Eight Pieces for Solo Flute provide vignettes of different musical styles rendered into his unique compositional style. The fifth piece, titled “Hongroise,” is perhaps inspired by Hungarian dances. Josh Stine, the flutist featured on the recording, is a Junior in the Bachelor of Music degree program at USC.

Performed by Joshua Stine
Recorded by Jeff Francis

Performed by Jennifer Parker-Harley
Recorded by Jeff Francis

Lowell Liebermann was born on this day in 1961. Beloved by flutists for his many works for the instrument,Ophelia, heard here, is from his Eight Pieces, and refers to Shakespeare’s tragic heroine from the play Hamlet.

Feb, February, Flute and Percussion

February 28 – Kembang Suling, I. 120 by Gareth Farr

Performed by Nave Graham (BM – USC’11) http://www.navegraham.com/ , flute and David Abraham, percussion

New Zealand composer and percussionist, Gareth Farr, was born on this day in 1968. At the age of twenty, Farr had the poignant experience of hearing a live gamelan orchestra, and the Indonesian gamelan rapidly became the hallmark of his compositional output. Kembang Suling, a three-movement work for flute and marimba, is Farr’s most popular composition to date. He writes about the opening movement, “On the magical island of Bali, flowing gamelan melodies intertwine with the sound of the ‘ruling’ (Balinese bamboo flute) to form rich colourful tapestries. The marimba and flute start out as one, their sounds indistinguishable. Bit by bit the flute asserts its independence, straying further and further from the marimba melody. An argument ensues— but all is resolved at the climax.”