The melody of Griffes’ poem for flute and piano (also written as a flute concerto with full orchestra) is hauntingly beautiful, accompanied by soft yet colorful textures from the collaborating musician(s). While Charles Griffes created several works for voice, piano, and the stage, he passed away at the age of 35 in New York City from the flu pandemic. He was influenced by both French impressionism and the exoticist movement, as seen in the Asian and Russian styles he incorporated in some of his works. The interplay between the flute and piano is colorful and impressionistic while also full of interesting harmonies and dissonances.Ĭharles Griffes was an American composer and pianist of twentieth century who studied abroad in Berlin. He also wrote several other major works for orchestras, ballets, and an opera titled “Ondine.” One of his best-known works in the flute world is the beautifully introspective Sonatine for Flute and Piano. Because Undine follows a strict code of honor, she is forced to kill Huldebrand as he chose to reject their marriage by returning to his former lover.Ī contemporary of Olivier Messaien, Pierre Sancan was a French composer who also studied at the Paris Conservatoire. However, Huldebrand’s former lover intervenes and attempts to woo him away. According to the story, the water nymph (Undine) marries a knight (Huldebrand) in order to gain a soul and live as a human.Ī basis of inspiration for Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid, Undine loses her former self and transforms into an almost human character throughout the story. 288, and the “Undine” Sonata. This passionate and virtuosic work for flute and piano was based off of the German myth and novella of Romantic-era writer Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué. 283, the Ballade for Flute and Orchestra Op. However, he is also known for his flute compositions, including the Concerto for Flute and Orchestra Op. He composed in many genres, including opera, symphony, chamber music, and works for organ and piano. ![]() Bach’s flute solo aspires structurally, albeit loosely, towards the new sonata form of the Classical era.Ĭomposing from a young age, Carl Reinecke was a German pianist of the Romantic era. However, unlike the dances of the Baroque period, C.P.E. Both pieces are written in the key of A Minor, and express an affect of sadness that listeners of the Baroque period would have recognized. His Sonata for A Minor for Flute Alone has become a standard piece of flute literature and noticeably takes after his father’s Partita. Bach also dabbled in chamber music and solo music. concertos, symphonies) and solo keyboard works, C.P.E. While most of his work revolved around larger-scale groups (e.g. ![]() His music is considered to be one of the bridges between the Baroque and the Classical period, as his early musical training was influenced by his father Johann Sebastian (as well as his father’s generation) while also embracing the musical transition post-1750. Bach was one of the musical children of Johann Sebastian and the most well-known out of his siblings. Of course, the sad and eerie mood of the dance foreshadows the tragic ending of the tale while Orpheus succeeds in nearly leading Eurydice out of the Underworld, he loses her forever by not following the instructions given to him before making it back to the earth.Ĭ.P.E. The choreography which accompanies the piece refers to the blessed spirts of the Elysium fields, a peaceful afterlife for the righteous. ![]() In Gluck’s operatic version of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, the piece is played while the protagonist Orpheus is roaming around in the Underworld in search of his lover Eurydice, who had died earlier from a snake bite. Gluck was a composer of the early Classical era and was a important contributor of operas in the French and Italian style of the day.
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