| Poznámka |
Léthé for solo flute
I composed this piece in 1989 as the required composition for Czechoslovak Radio's Concertino Praga competition. It was not my first composition for the flute, since I had already written Pohádky [Fairytales] for flute and guitar, as well as Vůně léta [The Fragrance of Summer] for flute and piano. In Léthé, my goal was to take advantage of the entire range of expressive and technical possibilities of the instrument while still preserving the balladic and ethereal nature of the theme. In Greek mythology, Léthé [Lethe] is the river of forgetfulness, the culmination of our earthly journey that opens our realm to something greater than us, something that is mystical and, in effect, unknowable. The solo flute allows for passages of great cantability/melodiousness and technical bravura. These, combined with the central interval of a fifth and its ornamental "envelopment," form an important element of this piece. The composition is written as a three-part arch form with a return to the introductory Largo triste, and a central, more energetic section with fast scale runs and tremolos. The music wants to "narrate" that which has already passed—things that are now just reminiscence—yet also contains the anticipation of movement forward into the unknown. There is also an element of fear and apprehension of the unknown, but a liberating release from all earthly concerns as well. Since its creation, this piece has been used numerous times as the required piece for flute competitions. |
score ArcoDiva
I composed this piece in 1989 as the required composition for Czechoslovak Radio's Concertino Praga competition. It was not my first composition for the flute, since I had already written Pohádky [Fairytales] for flute and guitar, as well as Vůně léta [The Fragrance of Summer] for flute and piano. In Léthé, my goal was to take advantage of the entire range of expressive and technical possibilities of the instrument while still preserving the balladic and ethereal nature of the theme. In Greek mythology, Léthé [Lethe] is the river of forgetfulness, the culmination of our earthly journey that opens our realm to something greater than us, something that is mystical and, in effect, unknowable. The solo flute allows for passages of great cantability/melodiousness and technical bravura. These, combined with the central interval of a fifth and its ornamental "envelopment," form an important element of this piece. The composition is written as a three-part arch form with a return to the introductory Largo triste, and a central, more energetic section with fast scale runs and tremolos. The music wants to "narrate" that which has already passed—things that are now just reminiscence—yet also contains the anticipation of movement forward into the unknown. There is also an element of fear and apprehension of the unknown, but a liberating release from all earthly concerns as well. Since its creation, this piece has been used numerous times as the required piece for flute competitions. |