Concertino
Jonathan Newman
About this work:
This CONCERTINO takes the lively French chamber wind literature of the early 20th-century as its starting point, but this piece views the "French" style through an odd lens, twisting and bending the language of that neo-Classical genre in order to run the music through very different stylistic approaches. In the later movements, the Franco-survey is expanded to other inspirations—to not only the techniques of other French nationals, but also of those I consider "French" in spirit, such as Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu. In writing the piece, I was particularly excited to explore these styles while juxtaposing the virtuosity of the soloist with the delicate intimacy of the chamber ensemble.
Practically, the work comes out of the efforts of my friend and colleague Robert Ambrose, a champion of new music who encouraged me to write for chamber winds, and flute in particular, and who shepherded the project with infectious enthusiasm. The CONCERTINO is dedicated to flutist Sarah Kruser Ambrose, for whom it was written.
Version: for flute solo, chamber winds, and piano
Year composed: 2007
Duration: 00:16:00
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Other Combinations, 10+ players
Instrumentation: ,1 Flute soloist(s), 2 Oboe, 2 Clarinet, 2 Bassoon, 2 Horn in F, 1 Piano
Instrumentation notes: FlSolo(Fl/Picc/Alto), Ob2/EHn, Cl1/EbCl, Cl2/BCl,