SKU: PR.114422710

ISBN 9781491136072. UPC: 680160688227.

DUO’s succinct movement titles (I. Here, II. Open, III. Stark, IV. Ardent) tease at revealing the grand and heartfelt inspiration for exuberant romanticism in this sonata-like work of symphonic proportions and depth. Charles Gibb is both an accomplished pianist and an award-winning flutist, who has written of this compelling major addition to the literature: “This work is a journey. What journey and whose journey does not matter. It is my journey, it is your journey. It is the journey of those who came before us, and of those who will come after us. I wrote this hoping that we can find each other along the road, so we can realize that we don’t need to go on the journey alone.” Gibb’s DUO is sure to become a favorite major work for flute recitalists.
This work is a journey. What journey and whose journey does not matter. It is my journey, it is your journey. It is the journey of those who came before us, and of those who will come after us. I wrote this hoping that we can find each other along the road, so we can realize that we don’t need to go on the journey alone.“Here” begins with three notes that shape the rhythmic and harmonic content of the entire work. Melodies and harmonies including the tonic, dominant, and leading tone can be found in each of the four movements. The first moments of this movement introduce the melody, offering itself unencumbered and uninhibited. It shows itself as it is. The melodies soar, the harmonies become voiced more intricately, and the opening theme repeats in full grandeur. The momentum slows down, and the movement ends with a sense of completion, yet remains unbalanced.A striking piano gesture launches “Open,” the idea of instability reflected with the flowing flute trills and unclear meter patterns in the piano. The sensation of an unsteady grace in 5/8 time arrives with a piano ostinato. The melody is expressive, yet insecure and unbalanced due to changing meters. After a grand pause, the movement transitions to 4/4 time with the flute switching between duplet and triplet flourishes. After a rapid descent in the flute, the opening gesture returns, changed and abruptly interrupted.The third movement, “Stark,” is very static, beginning plainly but markedly. The falling fifth calls out continually throughout the movement, searching, lost. Melodies appear in pieces, some smooth and flowing, others rather disjunct. The piece climaxes with a line of mournfulness, yet revealing a deeper strength through intense projection of tone in the high register. However, the static harmonies return, this time unsteady all the way to its foundation. This destabilization repeats, and then quietly recedes.“Ardent” is the longest of the movements and spans a wide range of musical emotion. Part of the movement is fast paced, energetic, and balances order and disarray. However, once the chaos dies down, a gentle, expressive theme comes in. The theme itself is very resolute; it is order appearing from the pandemonium. Conflict returns, and order and chaos become less distinguishable from one another, and soon fuse together. However, order returns with new meaning, synthesized with previous musical content, creating a truer, deeper sense of awareness or understanding. A moment of ambiguity arises, but the flute persists, supported by the sensitive but firm figuration in the piano, and resoundingly comes to a close, unburdened and at ease.

SKU: HL.49045188

ISBN 9790001200806. UPC: 841886023314.

The great talent of Cecile Chaminade (1857-1944) showed very early: At the age of 12, she published her first composition. Georges Bizet, a friend of the family, predicted her great future. After her successful debut as a pianist in Paris in 1877, she began busy concert activities as a solo pianist, chamber musician and conductor in many European countries as well as in the USA and Canada.Although many of her compositions became bestsellers during her lifetime, they are almost all missing in the concert programmes of today. Only the Concertino for flute and orchestra Op. 107 is still performed regularly. The demanding piece was written in 1902 as a competition piece at the Paris Conservatoire - initially still with piano accompaniment. The orchestral version was composed by Chaminade two years later.The piece begins with a wide melody and then turns into a virtuoso solo section which is followed by a cadenza. The piece ends with the initial theme as recapitulation and a coda.

SKU: P2.10029

Inspired by a tour to Brazil with the Campbellsville Univeristy Chorale, Rio de Janeiro for Flute and Piano was written for Cristina Soares, a native of Rio de Janiero. The opening section in 7-beat phrases is meant to evoke the laid back attitude of the city with some bossa-nova style. An abrupt change in character leads to the more energetic side of the city, incorporating Latin rhythms, syncopation, and some blues inspired chromaticsim. There is a return to the original section, but this time in a minor mode and at a faster tempo, concluding with the lively energy that Rio de Janiero is known for.

Seth Johnson (b.1989) is a composer, pianist, and cellist from Kentucky. He holds a Bachelor's of Arts in Music Theory/Composition and a Master's Degree in Music from Campbellsville University, where he served as composer-in-residence, principal cellist for the University Orchestra, and accompanist for the University Chorale. His works include numerous pieces for orchestra including Superhero Symphony, various solo/chamber pieces, as well as scores for the award winning Kentucky Education Television series My Kentucky Home.

Solo Part Included: Flute.