SPARX -Flute & Harp Duo | COMMISSION CELEBRATION & WORLD PREMIERE by Daniel Dorff! September 16 2016

 

COMMISSION CELEBRATION AND A WORLD PREMIERE!
SPARX Flute and Harp Duo
October 15, 2016
7:30 PM
First and Central Presbyterian Church
Rodney Square, Wilmington, Delaware
Admission is $20.00/$10.00 for seniors and students.
Available at the door.

Flutist Joan Sparks and Harpist, Anne Sullivan, collectively known as SPARX, celebrate the process of commissioning new music in a program that will feature 3 SPARX commissions.  The composers are Charles Holdeman of Philadelphia, Lowell Liebermann of New York City, and Daniel Dorff also of Philadelphia.

Each composer has found inspiration from historical composers and/or styles.  On October 15, Sparks and Sullivan will pair each new work with earlier music that relates to it.  The program will begin with Charles Holdeman’s Sonata Scintillante (2014).  Written for harp and flute/alto flute/piccolo in 4 movements, the style is Holdeman’s lyrical and whimsical expression. Debussy was a great inspiration to Mr. Holdeman, so the Duo will begin the program with music from this beloved composer.

Lowell Liebermann is a prolific composer of international stature.  His Sonata for Flute and Harp, OP. 56 (1996) will be the second featured piece on the program.  The work is comprised of 4 movements that are continuous, and takes the listener through emotions ranging from rapture to serious contemplation.  Mr. Liebermann cites Gabriel Faure as a chief influence in his early works.  Thus the “Morceau de Concours” will open the second section.

Ending the program will be the world premiere of Daniel Dorff’s Serenade for Flute and Harp (2016).  This work is in 5 movements and was influenced by the 14th century composer Solage and the style known as Ars Subtilior, the most famous source of which is the Chantilly Codex and has been described as 14th century Avant Garde.  Similar in inspiration to the Dorff Serenade are the Medieval Dances of Josef Lauber, two of which will round out the third and final section of the program.

Joan Sparks will be joined in concert on March 11, 2017 by First and Central’s organist and music minister, David Schelat. Planned for that concert are works by Frank Martin, Lowell Liebermann, and Mark Haggerty.  On June 3, 2017, the British pianist Timothy “Philharmonic” Carey will join Ms Sparks for music by Gaubert, Debussy, and Bach.  All concerts start at 7:30. Admission is $20/$10 for seniors and students, and is available at the door.