Product Description
This work is an extended, 24-minutes long, three movement Sonata for flute and piano. The piece is subtitled 'Jigs' and the entire work explores the concept of the musical jig in a wide variety of ways. The three movements are each in a different compound metre (time signature) commonly used in jigs (9/8, 12/8 & 6/8). The jig tends to be defined as a lively folk dance, with a skip or lilting motion. The flute's folk associations make it an ideal instrument with which to explore the genre in this work, within a folk-like modal/post-tonal idiom. Also, the work is very folk-like in its use of catchy dance tune sets, canons, parallel intervals, ornamentation, mini ternary forms (ABA), and textural variation.
The three movements loosely refer to the expected tempi and structures of a sonata, while making clear jig-like references in musical themes and motifs. The moderately-paced, playful first movement uses a symmetrical sonata form structure. Based around the lydian mode on F, the two main themes return in reverse order at end, and a new repeated third theme is presented as part of the central development. The slow ternary form second movement is far more brooding, wistful and nostalgic, and is more reminiscent of a folk lament. The outer sections feature a haunting melody in the dorian mode on D, which is subjected to much variation, and presented in two and three-part canons. The middle section consists of a kind of composed-out improvisation for the flute, over a hypnotic sequence in the piano. The finale is a fast jig in rondo form (ABACABA in this case), again using the dorian mode but now centred on G. This movement consists of a succession of catchy folk dance tunes, and is the most obviously jig-like with its cross rhythms and hemiolas. The frenzied pace is maintained throughout, though a more march-like jig tune (theme C) provides some relief before the varied return of the movement's opening themes in a major tonality, concluding with an even faster coda. The work is dedicated to Laura Howard.
This Flute Sonata is highly melodic and accessible for the listener. It is is best suited to experienced performers such as advanced students and (semi-) professional players. The PDF document is fully complete for performance, including a full score, followed by a flute part. A separate piano part (alone) is also provided in case the piano player prefers this (with fewer page turns), though the pianist may of course play from the full score copy (to see the flute part).
Duration: 24 minutes.
Registered with PRS (Performing Rights Society, UK).
Composer's Website: www.roberthowardmusic.co.uk
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