Duo FRESH: Transcendence

Details

Fred Springer full profile / Flute and Guitar / 2 musicians

Other players: Díjí Kay

Full program notes

Sonatina, op. 205, mvmt. 1 by M. Castelnuovo-Tedesco
A charming neo-classical dialogue by the great 20th Century Italian composer.

L'Heure Exquise by R. Hahn
Originally for voice and piano, this arrangement highlights the transcendent beauty of Hahn's chanson.

"Water Set"
Mangata - Refletos de la luna en el Jerte by F. Lopez
Shining River by S. Mahoney
Loch Lomond (Traditional Scottish)
This set combines solo flute and solo guitar music with a duo, all revolving around bodies of water. These pieces depict different aspects of natural beauty.

Three Brazilian Pieces
Quebra Quexico (Choro) by C. Machado
Aria (Cantilena), Bachianas Brasileiras no. 5 by H. Villa-Lobos
Paçoca (Choro) by C. Machado
This set combines the popular Brazilian traditions of song and dance, featuring two Choros and an Aria. The two pieces by Machado were originally written for flute and guitar, and the Aria features the flute taking on the role of a soprano voice. These pieces form a triptych that act as a window into different styles of Brazilian music.

Historical context

This program features compositions for flute and guitar, arrangements of vocal music, and solo works for both instruments. The variety of styles and source material showcase elements of music that transcend. The flute plays the role of a solo instrument, ripples of water, a singer, and a leader of dance, while the guitar acts as a vocalist, a piano, a folk instrument, and the rhythm section of a band. Through arrangements of vocal music, the transcendent nature of beauty is realized through music. Though some of these pieces were originally composed with different instruments in mind, their character and heart are preserved, if not emphasized, through new combinations of instruments.

The program also features music originally written for flute and guitar. Beginning with a lively duo by the great Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, the combination's potential is on full display right from the start. The Sonatina has a neo-classical character that thrives on dialogue between the two instruments. Shafer Mahoney's meditative "Shining River" is a journey from placid to tumultuous and back that breathes life into its imagery. The end of the program also features two dances by Celso Machado originally written for flute and guitar which showcase the duo's ability to embody styles of popular music.

The program as a whole offers a variety of historical context and musical style, and demonstrates the transcendent nature of art.

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