related works
Afternoon Trio : for flute, viola and harp / Michael Fine
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Mixed ensemble (2-12 players)
Scoring:
fl vla hp
Ex tempore : for ensemble, 2008 / Guus Janssen
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Large ensemble (12 or more players)
Scoring:
2fl 2cl h 2perc 2pf 2vl 2vc
Meditazione III : for ensemble and soundtracks, opus 100, 1996 / Jo van den Booren
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Large ensemble (12 or more players)
Scoring:
1111 1000 perc 2vl vla vc cb cd
Im Vortex : for 16 musicians / Sander Germanus
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Large ensemble (12 or more players)
Scoring:
fl ob cl fg h-double tpt trb euph org-el pf 2vn vla vc db perc
composition
Concierto del Luna : for flute, guitar and chamber orchestra / Michael Fine
Other authors:
Fine, Michael
(Composer)
Description:
When Philip Mann contacted me about composing a Concerto for Flute and Guitar with two superb soloists, I told him that I had never written a note for guitar but was happy to explore the idea. I took the opportunity to look at Villa-Lobos' Guitar Concerto for a check of guitar does and don'ts and perhaps his beautiful score has some influence on mine. That plus the idea of the American Southwest, where the music will be premiered, are the main external influences. I need to confess that I was also watching a moonlit Korean drama called 'Hotel del Luna' about a ghostly hotel that appears at the full moon.
The first section of this tripartite score is, in my imagination, drenched in moonlight and nocturnal images. All three movements have brief interludes where the solo instruments get to shine on their own. The second section, introduced by a brief cadenza for the two soloists, is a quiet meditation on some of the themes explored in the first section. The last movement is a fiesta, perhaps also under the moon rather than bright sun. The piece also features snare drum and cymbals commenting on, perhaps occasionally distracting the ear from the general flow of the music.
I'm particularly happy that Philip Mann will be conducting the premiere. He was the first conductor to give a public performance of my music, led three premieres, and recorded a CD of my music with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. After the premiere of my Suite for Strings, I told him that he found more music in my music than I as the composer knew was there. I produced numerous CDs with Alexa Still early in her career. It is always a pleasure to write music when you have a particular musician's sound and sensibilities in mind. Jason Vieux is one of today's premiere guitar soloists and I am very fortunate to have an artist of his stature premiere my first piece featuring the guitar.
Michael Fine