June 6
Parable XII
Vincent Persichetti (1915-1987)
Vincent Persichetti was born on this day in 1915. A major figure in 20th century American music composition, Persichetti was a prolific composer and taught many notable students at Juilliard. He wrote 25 Parables spanning a range of instrumentations of which this is the twelfth. Dr. Kristen Stoner, Professor of Flute at the University of Florida, dedicated this performance to the memory of Jack Wellbaum, beloved piccolo teacher at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.
Performed by Dr. Kristen Stoner, Professor of Flute at the University of Florida
June 9
Allegro Moderato from Flute Concerto
Carl Nielsen (1865-1931)
Carl Nielsen was born on this day in 1865. Originally a violinist, Nielsen studied violin and composition at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, where he later became a professor and ultimately the academy director. He worked there until his death in 1931. The Concerto for Flute and Orchestra was written in 1926 for Holger Gilbert-Jespersen, the flutist for the Copenhagen Wind Quintet.
NFA Rep Guide Level K
Performed by Brianna Futch, flute and Claudio Olivera, piano
June 18
Run in a Graveyard
Du Yun (b. 1977)
Du Yun, born on this day in 1977, is one of the most successful composers of our time having won the Pulitzer Prize as well as many other awards and fellowships. Her piece Run in a Graveyard asks the flutist to interpret a score filled with both standard notation and graphic instructions in response to an electronic track carrying out a texture sweep from pointillistic bleeps to overexposed clipping. Kenneth worked with Du Yun in his version of this piece and finds the mix of specific notes and graphic score rewarding to perform. The process of learning the piece showed Du Yun’s affinity for collaboration as she explored possible realizations with Kenneth.
Performed by Kenneth Cox (UofSC ‘14)
June 18
Caprice No. 6
Anton Stamitz (1750-1809)
Anton Stamitz was born on this day in 1750. Stamitz was a violinist and composer who at one time held the title ordinaire de la musique du roi in the King’s court at Versailles. He wrote a large amount of flute music including the collection of 8 Caprices which make up most of the flute’s late-eighteenth-century repertoire alongside Mozart.
Performed by Jennifer Parker-Harley
Recorded by Jeff Francis
June 23
Intermezzo from Sonata Undine
Carl Reinecke (1824-1910)
Carl Reinecke, born on this day in 1824, was perhaps the most influential flute composer of the 19th century. His iconic Sonata Undine exhibits the romanticism, sweeping melodies, and programmatic form typical of the music of his time. This recording is part of a larger project pairing music based on poetry with the words that inspire it. The album Words and Music is available from Titanic Records.
NFA Rep Guide Level J
Performed by Jennifer Parker-Harley and Lydia Brown
Recorded by Jeff Francis