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Flute Concerto (1997) |
3(picc)23(bcl)2/4331/timp.perc/hp/strings
The Flute Concerto, like its predecessors for clarinet and viola, is cast in one movement. It falls, however, into three broad sections, for alto, ordinary flute and piccolo respectively, which help define its architecture. In keeping with the low sounds of the alto flute, dark-hued timbres predominate in much of the first part - bassoons, bass-clarinets and low-brass and strings, all occasionally lit by the strange glow of a tubular bell or tam-tam submerged in water. The middle part (for flute) consists of a warm and sustained passage for full orchestra and soloist, followed by bright, hammered phrases for tuned percussion and pizzicatostrings. Later, these turn into brutal and destructive music - heavy, deep chords, and out of this the piccolo is born. The music of the last part is light and dance-like, with the solo piccolo playing continuous semi-quavers. But, after the final orchestral climaxs, the alto and the ordinary flute reappear and the concerto ends gently, with the solo flute climbing ever higher, leaving behind the peaceful, but earthbound string chord which supports it.