Concerto for Flute

"Icarus"

for flute and large orchestra

Duration - approx. 20 min.

Program Notes:

Concerto for Flute was written for and with the assistance of Sophia Tegart.

Ovid wrote, “And all look up, in absolute amazement,/At those air-borne above. They must be gods!” Concerto for Flute did not begin attached to the myth of Icarus and his father Daedalus. It began as a concerto for Sophia Tegart, a piece to showcase her incredible ability and facility on the flute. Slowly, Concerto for Flute developed into a three movement battle between the flute and the orchestra, sometimes the flute leading, sometimes the orchestra. Still, it did not have any programmatic elements and I wasn’t initially sure I wanted any.

Then it came time to name the piece…

I wanted it to have a subtitle, so it wouldn’t just be a “concerto for flute”. That was when I started analyzing the character of the piece and what it wanted to say. The end was very tragic, with the flute losing the battle and being swallowed up by the orchestra. An ending like that seemed ideal for Greek or Roman tragedy. Shortly thereafter I came up with the idea of “Icarus”. Indeed, the flute feels to be a kindred spirit to the young boy, full of mirth, wonderment and even hubris. After rereading Ovid, I decided upon the following tale for the concerto. Of course, certain skeptics might scoff at the idea of programmatic elements added after the composition has been completed. If you feel this way, then by all means disregard the programmatic elements. For those that need some sort of story to become engaged in the work, here it is. Enjoy.

I – Taking Flight: The first movement envisions Daedalus creating the wings and teaching his son to fly. Like a baby bird, Icarus has many failed attempts before finally feeling comfortable. The movement ends with Icarus being warned not to fly too close to the sun, but nonetheless soaring high above his father

II – Among the Gods: Icarus and Daedalus are flying toward freedom and home. It is from below that we view them, above us like Gods, soaring over the farmers, fishermen and shepherds. They swoop and dive, veer and glide, chasing birds and skimming the water. Icarus feels the salty air and the joy of flight.

III – Melting Wax: The hubris of flight has blinded the boy to his father’s warning. Icarus flies higher and higher, making dangerously fast turns and maneuvers. He continues upward until he is gazing at the clouds below. That is when the wings begin to break apart. He desperately tries to keep it together, but is unable. He is now waving featherless wings wildly, falling toward the sea. Icarus reaches out to his father but it is too late: the boy has been swallowed by the sea.

 

the second movement has been recorded by Sophia Tegart and Kairy Koshoeva on May 14th in Kansas City, MO.
The third movement was premiered on Feb. 25th, 2009 by Sophia Tegart and the UMKC Orchestra in Kansas City, MO.
The second movement was read on March 13th, 2009 by Sophia Tegart and the UMKC Orchestra in Kansas City, MO.

Copyright© 2011 Ryan Jesperson

Fall, 2012: Joseph Abad will premiere a new Saxophone Sonata.

Fall, 2012: Jordan Jacobson will perform fragments and memories in CT.

Spring-Summer, 2012: Jeux pour Jumeaux will be performed in San Francisco, CA.

Spring, 2012: Bobby Watson and the UMKC Big Band will premiere Rhapsody for Dean Moriarty in Kansas City, MO.

Spring, 2012: Ashly Evans will premiere Birdsongs in Houston, TX.

Spring, 2012: BA(da)SS will be performed by Ryan Ford in West Hartford, CT.

Spring, 2012: Jordan Jacobson will perform fragments and memories in CT.

Spring, 2012: Not Death, but Love will be premiered by Ineo Saxophone Quartet.

Spring, 2012: David Tayloe will perform A Page Out of Zen in CT.

May, 2012: The Invisible, Magic, Soccer Phone will be premiered in Middlefield, CT.

April, 2012: The UMKC Opera Dept. will perform portions of Songs from Behind the Curtain.

April, 2012: David Tayloe will premiere A Page Out of Zen in NY.

Feb. 17th, 2012: The 016 Ensemble will be perform Romanza for Alto Saxophone and Violin in Manchester, CT.

Dec. 3rd, 2011: Ryan defends his dessertation, Songs from Behind the Curtain at UMKC.

July 17th, 21st, 24th, 2011: Music Faculty from the Sebago-Long Lake Music Festival will perform ...and those seven dwarfs in a series of concerts in Western Maine.

June 16th, 17th, 23rd, 24th, 2011:Orphée Redux will be performed by Rhymes With Opera on their East Coast Tour (NYC, Baltimore, Hartford, Boston).

June 12th, 2011:Selection from Songs from Behind the Curtain will be performed at the John Duffy Composers Institute in Norfolk, VA.

May 13th, 2011: The Ineo Quartet will perform the 1st movement of Not Death, but Love on their Fischoff Competition program in South Bend, Indiana.

March 19th, 2011: The Ineo Saxophone Quartet will perform ...and love is fire... from Not Death, but Love at the NASA conference in West Point, NY.

Feb. 25th, 2011: I. Jest will be premiered by Robert Olson and the UMKC Orchestra in Kansas City, MO.

Feb. 14th, 2011: Hebdomas Squatinae will be performed at the Nebraska at Kearney New Music Festival.

EVENT HISTORY