Flute and Piano
SKU:
IS.FP7297EM
Composed
by Peter Benoit.
Woodwinds - Flute.
Metropolis Music
Publishers #FP7297EM.
Published by Metropolis
Music Publishers
(IS.FP7297EM).
ISBN
9790365072972.
Pete
r Benoit, one of the
great Flemish Romantic
composers and often
considered the origin of
the Flemish School, was
better known for his
piano and choral music
than for his wind music.
Nevertheless, his one
entry into the flute
repertoire - the Concerto
- is an exemplary piece
of high Romanticism that
combines symphonic
writing with idiomatic,
virtuosic flute
technique. Composed as
part of a
‘legendary
triptych’ - the
Stories and Ballads for
Piano, the Symphonic Tale
for Piano and orchestra,
and the Flute Concerto -
the three movements show
the Concerto for the tone
poem it is at heart. The
first Preludium
(Will-o’-the-Wisps
) begins with a fiery
orchestral fanfare, with
an equally grand entrance
by the soloist that
introduces the first
theme and launches the
movement into the
formidable back-and-forth
between soloist and
orchestral forces. The
second, Melancholia,
somewhat resembles the
Molique Andante in its
construction - a clear,
wistful theme is
embellished and carefully
expanded into a full
musical showpiece for
flute. The Finale (Dance
of the Wisps) then
immediately launches into
a display of the
flutist’s agility,
moving through various
permutations of the theme
before coming to an
exuberant, grateful
landing.