Instrumentation: flute and classical guitar
Commissioned by: Adam Cicchillitti & Lara Deutsch duo
Composition date: 2024
Duration: 8:00 min
World Premiere: October 3rd 2024, Cheshire, United Kingdom
Program notes:
The work was inspired by the 13th century poet Rumi’s iconic poem, “Listen to the Reed Flute”. The reed-flute is grieving its separation from the reedbed it was cut away from. It is longing to go back, as a lover longs for their beloved or a devotee longs for their divine creator. In Rumi’s poem, the breath alone doesn’t make the ute speak. It is that inner fire of longing that is given voice through the reed-flute, and that fire is generated ultimately by love, a burning love inside our chests and lungs that creates music. The pain of separation is a timeless and universal aspect of the human experience.
This is a work about suffering, longing, but also the hope and joy of being alive, also represented by the vitality of the breath as it enlivens the ute. I wanted this piece to depict an interchange of these ideas between the ute and guitar.
In Iranian music, the reed instrument that Rumi refers to is called the Ney, which is indeed made out of reeds. In this composition I’ve explored and incorporated techniques of Iranian Ney playing.
I was also inspired by Iranian music of the plucked instruments tar and setar. Master players such as Hossein Alizadeh and Kayhan Kalhor were especially influential to my writing for this work, which emulates some of the ornamentation, picking style, modal, rhythms, and improvisational style of these incredible musicians. I was also influenced by fingerstyle guitar performers such as Maneli Jamal for their use of percussive elements on the guitar.
Performances:
| Dates | Locations |
|---|---|
| 03.10.24 | ELLESMERE PORT • Ellesmere Port Library – United Kingdom |
| 04.10.24 | TARVIN • Tarvin Community Centre – United Kingdom |
| 05.10.24 | LUDLOW • Ludlow Assembly Rooms – United Kingdom |
| 06.10.24 | BRIDGNORTH • Quatt Village Hall – United Kingdom |
| 08.10.24 | OSWALDTWISTLE • Oswaldtwistle Library – United Kingdom |
| 09.10.24 | LYTHAM ST. ANNES • St. Anne’s Library – United Kingdom |
| 10.10.24 | CLITHEROE • Clitheroe Library – United Kingdom |
| 11.10.24 | BLANCHLAND • Blanchland Abbey – United Kingdom |
| 12.10.24 | LAZONBY • Lazonby Village Hall – United Kingdom |
| 13.10.24 | BURNLEY • Burnley Mechanics Theatre – United Kingdom |
Thanks to the generous support of Canada Council for the Arts and Ontario Arts Council for the creation of this composition!!
