16.
ANDREW DOWNES PUBLISHED WORKS
INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE flutes
SONATA FOR 8 FLUTES OR FLUTE CHOIR Opus 58 (1996) 27'
View Score
PLAY sample
track : movement 3 - James Madison University Flute Choir /
PLAY sample
track : movement 2 - Massachusetts Flute Choir
5 concert flutes, piccolo (written in the flute 2 part - in the
choir version, when the piccolo is playing, the other second
flutes are redistributed) 2 alto flutes, 1 bass flute.
(5 movements)
Commissioned by Margaret Lowe in recognition of the great flute
maker, Albert Cooper, with funds contributed, with affection and
esteem for Albert, by numerous eminent flautists, groups and
businesses, including Brannen Brothers Flutemakers Inc. and James
Galway.
The world premiere took place on 18 August 1996 at the Convention
of the US National Flute Association in New York. The Association's
Professional Flute Choir performed the work. The first British
and first solo octet performance took place in the Adrian Boult
Hall, Birmingham on 20th October 1996. At both premieres the
conductor was Carol Kniebusch Noe.
Many performances of this work have since taken place throughout
the world, particularly in America North and South, for example
by Flute Choirs at the Universities of Michigan, Oregon, New
Mexico, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida and California, by Flute Choirs in
Houston, Portland and Washington, Boston, New Jersey and by the National
Flute Orchestra of Venezuela. Performances
have taken place in Japan and Australia as well as many in the UK.
It has twice been performed at the Stratford International Flute
Festival, in 1997 and 1999. In April 1999 the James Madison
University Flute Choir of Virginia visited England and played the
work in Birmingham, Henley in Arden and Worcester Cathedral. The
following January (2000) they made a CD of Andrew Downes flute
music, including this work, and in March 2000 performed the work
in a concert devoted entirely to Andrew Downes flute music. The
Massachusetts Flute Choir recorded the work for CD in
the same year.
'Its cool, chaste sounds rhythmically spiced, the Sonata is
yet another example of how aptly Downes' music sits in its chosen
medium.'
THE BIRMINGHAM POST
'..truly a masterpiece in flute ensemble literature... He
writes with a clear understanding of the flute's melodic and
technical capabilities as well as the variety of colours and
contrasts possible in the flute family of instruments... In
harmonic, rhythmic and formal content the piece is well crafted
and the melodies linger long after hearing. This is the first
work of major length written for flute choir. All flute choirs
are encouraged to enjoy this fine composition, as it is
accessible to choirs of varying standard.'
Carol Kniebusch Noe for 'PAN' MAGAZINE
See also Discography
for details of the CD recordings of this work by the James Madison
University Flute Choir, conducted by Carol Kniebusch Noe, and the Massachusetts Flute Choir, conducted by
Danielle Boudrot.
Recorded
samples of Andrew Downes' music and how to order CDs and videos
FANTASIA FOR ALTO & BASS FLUTE SOLOS
WITH 5 PART CONCERT FLUTE CHOIR ACCOMPANIMENT Opus 63 (1998)
16'
View Score
Commissioned by Margaret Lowe for the 'Birmingham Flute
Commission' and premiered on l8th April 1999, at a special Flute
Day at Birmingham Conservatoire, by soloists Clare Southworth and
Gary Woolf and the Birmingham Flute Ensemble, conducted by Carol
Kniebusch Noe.
First American performance by the James Madison University Flute
Choir of Virginia, directed by Carol Kniebusch Noe, in the Wilson
Hall of James Madison University, on 31st March 2000. Performed
by the Massachusetts High School Flute Choir, directed by Danielle
Boudrot, in April 2000. Recorded for CDs by both of these
American flute choirs (see Discography).
Subsequent performers of this work include the West Michigan Flute Orchestra in
their Fall Concert, November 2003.
Recorded
samples of Andrew Downes' music and how to order CDs and videos
TONE POEM: SONG OF THE EAGLE Opus 71 (1999) 12'
View Score
FOR FLUTE CHOIR
Commissioned to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the James
Madison University Flute Choir, one of the oldest flute choirs in
the USA, founded by Carol Kniebusch Noe. The choir recorded the
work for a special CD devoted to Andrew Downes' Flute Music in
January 2000. (see Discography). The first concert performances
took place on 31st March and 1st April 2000 in the Wilson Hall of
James Madison University, Virginia. The UK
premiere was on Sunday 13th November 2005 as part of the First National Flute Choir
Day in the Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham. The performance was given by the
Birmingham Flute Ensemble with American guests and augmented by students from Millikin University, Illinois and Birmingham Conservatoire, and was conducted by
Carol Kniebusch Noe.
'It is an extraordinarily beautiful work, with
moods alternating between calm reflection and wilder moments of joy.
Piccolo solos float above the lower flutes, suggesting the freedom of the eagle
soaring above the vast open spaces of America. There are amazing rhapsodic
arpeggio figures in the main body of the choir. The effect is continuous
flowing sound, apparently without a moment to breathe, but the phrases are so
well dovetailed between the parts that no-one has to last for more than two bars
at a time.' Alison Uren for 'PAN' MAGAZINE
Recorded
samples of Andrew Downes' music and how to order CDs and videos
SYMPHONY No.5 Scored for Flute Orchestra Opus 79 (2002) 35' View Score
Commissioned by Margaret Lowe, with funds from the Awards for All programme. Premiered by the Birmingham Flute Ensemble, conducted by Carol Kniebusch-Noe, at the Birmingham Flute Day at Birmingham Conservatoire on March 17th 2002, with financial assistance provided by the Brannen-Cooper Fund. The American premiere was given on 18th August 2002 at the Convention of the USA National Flute Association in Washington DC by the US National Flute Association Professional Flute Choir, conducted by Carol Kniebusch Noe. Numerous subsequent performances have taken place, for example two performances at the 2002 Stratford International Flute Festival - in the Guild Chapel, Stratford upon Avon and in St Edmund’s Church Shipston-on-Stour - conducted by Jenny Brooks; at Grand Rapids, West Michigan (fall 2002 and spring 2003), and the 2nd movement at Jeanne Baxtresser’s International Masterclass in Pittsburgh PA (June 2003), by the West Michigan Flute Association conducted by Darlene Dugan; in the Rowe Recital Hall of UNC Charlotte, by the UNC Charlotte Flute Choir, directed by Mark Thomas, in April 2003 and in Evanston Illinois by the Northwest University Flute Orchestra in March 2007. The National Flute Orchestra of Mexico, conducted by Jenny Brooks, performed the symphony at the Xochipilli Concert Hall in the Escuela National de Musica, Mexico City in April 2004. Excerpts from the symphony, conducted by Jenny Brooks, were performed at the first National Flute Choir Day in the Adrian Boult Hall Birmingham (November 2005).
'... the daring idea to compose a work for large-scale flute orchestra... the talented forces of a special ten-voice ensemble, some 30 strong, assembled to premiere Andrew Downes Fifth Symphony. Commissioned to crown Birmingham Flute Commission’s Flute Day.., this substantial piece is immediately attractive, often minimalist in its rhythmic patterning and had the visual delight of featuring two contrabass flutes' - THE BIRMINGHAM POST
'... Andrew Downes’ voice is very much his own. We must be grateful to him for a major contribution to the flute ensemble repertoire.' Kenneth Bell PAN MAGAZINE
'... Andrew Downes again demonstrates his deep appreciation for the instrument.' Chris Wilson PAN MAGAZINE
'... We were all sent our parts ahead of time... there was no way we could have known how glorious this piece would be ... Putting it all together in that first rehearsal was unforgettable!' Sharyn Byer THE (USA) FLUTIST QUARTERLY
MOUNTAIN SONG Tone Poem for Flute Choir, Harp (or Piano) and String Bass Opus 84 (2003)
10’ View ScoreCommissioned by Nancy Spidel and the Colorado Flute Orchestra, and first performed in the Vance Brand Civic Auditorium, Longmont, Colorado on 20th December 2003, with a subsequent performance in December 2006. The Colorado Flute Orchestra, with Kathy Moore, harp, and Chris Engleman, bass, were conducted by Nancy Spidel. Subsequent performers of this work have included the Columbia Flute Choir, directed by Sharyn Byer, at the Columbia Flute Choir Festival in November 2004 and at the USA National Flute Convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in August 2006.
SONATA FOR FLUTE & PIANO;
SONATA FOR PICCOLO & PIANO See Solo Instrument with Piano P.12
LOST LOVE - flute, cello, piano, soprano voice - See
under Song Cycles Page 3