Flutes Fatale
March 3, 2019
4:00 pm
Falls Church, VA
Saint Patrick’s Episcopal Church
3241 Brush Drive, Falls Church, VA 22042

Flutes Fatale is a program of music by women composers, performed by all women.  One of the unique things about this program is that none of the pieces are transcriptions; meaning they were all written for the precise combination and types of flutes found in the program.

For example, there is a piece for piccolo, two C flutes and bass flute called Umoja, by Valerie Coleman.  Umoja  is Swahili for unity. It’s based on an African song that is traditionally sung the first day of Kwanza.  Another piece, Gaelic Offering by Catherine McMichael, for four C flutes,  charms us with various Gaelic-inspired dances and ballads.  Garnet Valley Groove, written by Jazz Flutist Ali Ryerson, for four flutes and alto flute takes us to a jazzy groove. We have a quintet called Flock, based on Minimalist Music. It is written by a young flute duo  (two young women) named Flutronix!  And we are also performing a haunting duo, Au Dela du Temps, for two flutes and piano by the Japanese Composer Yuko Uebayashi.  There are other, equally compelling, pieces that complete this uplifting program.  PLUS, you will see most all members of the flute family represented: Piccolo, C Flute, Alto Flute and  Bass Flute.

Program:

  1. ”Chrysalis”for 5 Flutes by Catherine McMichael
  2. “Sonata” for flute and Piano by Melanie Bonis (Known at the time as Mel Bonis to hide her real gender!)
  3. “Au Dela Du Temps”for two flutes and Piano by Yuko Ubayashi
  4. “Garnet Valley Groove” by jazz flutist/composer Ali Ryearson for 5 flutes

Performers: Karen Johnson, Flute; Lauren Panfili,Flute;  Karen Van Dyke, Flute; Kathryn Faranish,Flute; Mariko Hiller, Piano