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, Australia and Norway, as well as many
in the UK. It has been performed at the Stratford International Flute
Festival (in 1997 and 1999, directed by Jenny Brooks), and in the Barbican
Centre foyer (by the King’s Flute Choir directed by Sagar
Masani in 2009).
In 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, and UpTown Flutes, virtuoso flute ensemble from
New Jersey, recorded the sonata for CD in 2009.
'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, the Massachusetts Flute Choir, conducted by Danielle Boudrot, and UpTown Flutes,
virtuoso flute ensemble.
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. The work was performed at the Convention of the
US National Flute Association in New York by the Texas Woman's University/
Brookhaven Flute Choir, directed by Pamela Youngblood, in 2009.
'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), and the whole work was performed by the USA National Flute Association High School Flute Choir, conducted by Jenny Brooks, at the USA National Flute Convention in Albuquerque in August 2007.
'... 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 Score
Commissioned 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. The Colorado Flute Orchestra performed the work again at the 2007 USA National Flute Convention in Albuquerque. The Columbia Flute Choir, directed by Sharyn Byer, gave performances at the Columbia Flute Choir Festival in November 2004 and at the USA National Flute Convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in August 2006. The Texas Woman's University/Brookhaven Flute choir, conducted by Pamela Youngblood, performed the work at the Margo Jones Performance Hall at Texas Woman's University in October 2009.
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