related works
Dark City : version for piano quintet and violoncello solo / Douglas Knehans
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Mixed ensemble (2-12 players)
Scoring:
str pf vcl solo
Symphonische muziek : voor fluit en orkest, (1947/48) / Guillaume Landré
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Flute and orchestra
Scoring:
2332 3321 timp perc xyl str fl-solo
Melomotion : concerto for orchestra, 1990, revision 2003 / Ernst Oosterveld
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Flute and orchestra
Scoring:
0112 4110 xyl vibr mar pf str fl-solo
Quatre pas de deux : für Flöte und Orchester, Opus 30, (1972) / Ton de Kruyf
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Flute and orchestra
Scoring:
0000 2220 4perc cel g 2hp man cemb pf str(8.8.6.6.4.) fl-solo
composition
Tempest : Concerto for flute and orchestra / Douglas Knehans
Author(s):
Knehans, Douglas
(Composer)
Description:
The title of this work refers to rough wind. When I was approached me about a new flute work the idea of a virtuosic wind player set my imagination to types of crazy, unrestrained wind. This led me to look into the natural occurrences of wild, unpredictable wind patterns around the world. This led in turn to the titles of the three movements: Ostro the traditional name of the southerly wind in the Mediterranean sea; Mistral, a cold northerly from central France and the Alps to Mediterranean–this movement I have also allied to the notion of a type of funeral march, hence the title Mistral… Funerailles with the cold wind perhaps summoning the notion of death and impermanence. Finally, the last frantic and virtuosic movement is titled Etesian which references a strong, dry north wind of the Aegean Sea which is most of the time a good steady sailing wind. The well-contained and metrical virtuosity of this movement seems to align with this welcome and sustaining wind that is good for travel.
In artistically interpreting all of these types of global wind patterns I have tried to invest a dramatic and virtuosic element to the corresponding wind music. I was asked for a piece without restrictions and so a concerto seemed the obvious vehicle for the soloist’s awesome technical power and completely beautiful musicianship. I am extremely fortunate to have Gareth Davies, principal flute of the London Symphony Orchestra, as the soloist for this work.
Douglas Knehans