…some measures for living

Description

Duration

10 min.

Program Notes

…some measures for living… was commissioned by (and written for and dedicated to) flutist George Pope for an AIDS Memorial Concert at the 1998 National Flute Association Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. His particular request was for “something lively” that would nonetheless be appropriate to the occasion. After some months of not knowing how to begin, the opening bars appeared which commence the long introduction – a setting down of the extent of musical regions, like staking a claim. As a private sign there is a quote from my setting of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 71 “No longer mourn for me when I am dead…” This music leads in a “cross-fade” of tolling bell to the lively second half, which turns out to be a sort of rondo. I wrote it between April 15 and May 16, and George premiered it with pianist Brad Blackham June 22, 1998 in Akron, Ohio. It was then performed in Phoenix by Karl Barton, flute and Gail Novak, piano.