Classical Music | Music for Flute

Recorded on 06/28/2015, uploaded on 09/06/2015

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

This is the world premiere of Homage to Josquin, recorded at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico on June 28, 2015.  Here are my program notes from the concert.

Homage to Josquin is based on themes from the Renaissance master, Josquin des Prés (c.1451-1521.)  He was an almost exact contemporary of Leonardo da Vinci.  In his time, the “New World” was discovered, the modern printing press with movable type was invented (the “Internet” of its time), and Europe was emerging from the Middle Ages.  Homage to Josquin takes themes from three Latin Mass movements as well as one secular work of Josquin, and combines them with a symphonic piano part and a “Classic Rock” rhythm section, which to my knowledge hasn’t been done before.  The flutes take on the role of the voices in Josquin’s musical themes, and in the sections where they are playing by themselves, it would be easy to imagine being transported to back to early 16th century Italy, where Josquin’s music was performed in the chapels of the rich and powerful. The form of "Homage to Josquin" is very classical in design, similar to first movements of Sonatas, String Quartets or Symphonies of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven.  You’ll hear musical ideas being presented, developed and recalled later.  Many thanks to Linda Marianiello, Susan Levitin, and Jacquelyn Helin for making this premiere a reality.  I hope that you like "Homage to Josquin."