Sunrise
Item
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Score title
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Sunrise
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Composer
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Thea Musgrave
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Program note
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Flute doubling alto flute
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Commissioned by Backshore Artists Project Inc. on the occasion of Carol Wincenc’s fortieth anniversary and underwritten by a grant from Linda and Stuart Nelson. First performance, 22 February 2010 at the Morgan Library, New York, by Les Amies (Carol Wincenc, flute; Nancy Allen, harp; Cynthia Phelps, viola).
The work is dedicated to Carol Wincenc for this very special occasion.
It starts slowly with the alto flute leading to a dark dream-like section with a theme that is marked rubato, seductive. The viola echoes this melody but tries to move it to another key. Eventually the tempo quickens as the harp adds a new theme which the others soon copy.
A new svegliato (awakening) follow where the harp and viola encourage the flute to join them in a sprightly scherzo which grows to a climax to herald the sunrise. Here the viola leads with a glowing theme. After the flute has echoed this melody the mood quietens and in a peaceful coda the flute ‘remembers’ the theme from the very opening: it is now bathed in sunlight and is marked luminous.
© 2009 Thea Musgrave
Thea Musgrave