Cherise D. Leiter, Composer
Four Proverbs cover showing a flute leaning against a tree.
Four Proverbs cover showing a flute leaning against a tree.
Four Proverbs (2024)
Medium: solo flute and chamber winds
solo flute and flute choir
Length: ~19 min
​Level: Advanced
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“All flute players are mad. When once they begin to blow, away goes reason” is a Latin proverb, and the inspiration for the first movement of Four Proverbs, a concerto for flute and chamber ensemble commissioned by Dr. Mary Matthews, in which each movement is based on a quote about the flute. This first movement asks the flutist to demonstrate a variety of extended techniques including jet whistles, overblowing through the harmonic series, singing while playing, as well as stomping and yelling throughout the highly syncopated rhythmic motives. In addition to performing on their instruments, the members of the ensemble also use shakers.
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The text for the second movement is a quote from the Indian mystic poet Kabir and reads: “The flute of the infinite is played without ceasing, and its sound is love.” Beginning with the flutist playing the alto flute and the ensemble humming, the piece moves from the first section in 7/4 through a middle section in 12/4 performed on the C-flute and then returns to the opening material and the alto flute. The ensemble for this movement includes an optional glockenspiel.
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The third movement is a rondo which alternates a lively melody in 6/8 with two contrasting sections. It uses only the higher instruments in the ensemble, as well as accompanying finger cymbals or triangle, and can be performed on either flute or piccolo. The accompanying verse is from a book entitled Fairyland, illustrated by the artist Ida Rentoul Outhwaite with poems and stories by Annie Rentoul and Grenbry Outhwaite: “Then clear on a flute of purest gold a sweet little fairy played. And wonderful fairy tales she told, and marvelous music made.”
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“Play the flute of felicity! You, yourself, are the melody” is a quote from the Persian poet Rumi and is the inspiration for the last movement. This is the only movement without additional percussion instruments, and after opening with a declamatory statement from the flute, launches into a groove-based section with rapid running notes in the flute. Snippets of the themes from previous movements make cameos in the second half of the movement as it rushes to its joyous conclusion.
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This piece exists in two different forms: solo flute and chamber winds (two oboes, two clarinets (one doubling bass), two horns, two bassoons) or solo flute and flute choir (four flutes, two alto flutes, two bass flutes, optional contrabass)
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Price: $50
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Flute and chamber winds:
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Flute and flute choir:
