related works
Cloud Ossuary : Symphony Nº 4 for soprano and orchestra / Douglas Knehans; words by Katarina Knehans
Genre:
Vocal music
Subgenre:
Voice and orchestra
Scoring:
sop eh tpt 2perc hp str
Concerto : for pan flute and orchestra / Benjamin Ashkenazy
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Flute and orchestra
Scoring:
panflute-solo 2fl 2ob 2cl 2fg 2h 2perc str
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Flute and orchestra
Scoring:
2222 2100 cel hp str(8.6.5.4.2.) fl-solo
Concert : voor dwarsfluit en orkest / Herman Strategier
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Flute and orchestra
Scoring:
fl-solo ob cl fg 2h timp perc hp str
composition
Tempest : Concerto for flute and orchestra / Douglas Knehans
Other authors:
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