Summer Night, Winter Storm (2021) - for Flute, Violin, Guitar, and Euphonium
Summer Night, Winter Storm was written for and premiered at the 2021 UMKC Composers Guild Concert by a small contemporary ensemble consisting of the following members: Giuseppe Junior Gallo-Balma Etes (flute), Michael MacLaughlin (violin), Ian Lester (euphonium), and Pat Owen-Leary (guitar).
The piece consists of two main ideas. The first is a slow plaintive section representing the charm of a breezy summer night with lush textures and interlocking rhythms creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The second idea conveys a chaotic winter snowstorm, beginning with a flurry of fugue-like passages that are interrupted by the "Summer Night" material, which refers to the "false spring" the Midwest United States often experiences. The storm then returns, growing in intensity by way of a semi-improvised guitar solo. The work ends with the blizzard reaching its maximum power. To match the dynamics of the other instruments, it is recommended that the acoustic guitar be amplified for performances of this work.
Duration: Approx. 8 minutes 15 seconds
Difficulty: 3.5/5
Format: PDF Score and Parts (Flute, Euphonium or Trombone, Violin, Acoustic Guitar)
Copyright © 2021 Ian Lester