Opus 324

Brightnesses (2001)

for Flute and Organ

  • Brightness of the Firmament
  • Walking in Brightness
  • Go Forth As Brightness

Duration: 6 min.

Dedication: for Dolores Zdancewicz

Commission: Commissioned by KircheFlöteGesellschaft

Publisher: Lauren Keiser Music Publishing

Performance materials available from the publisher.

Brightnesses (2001) for flute and organ was commissioned by KircheFlöteGesellschaft (Dresden), to celebrate their first anniversary. The work is dedicated to Dolores Zdancewicz.

The work is in three movements, each inspired by a different Biblical quotation relating to “brightness.” The passages are quoted as an epigraphs before the score of each movement.

The first movement, Brightness of the Firmament, is a rondo with a ritornello in dotted-rhythms that continues to return throughout the movement. Often the flute soars like “stars in the sky” over thick chords in the organ.

The second movement, Walking in Brightness, is a chaconne. The flute develops an ever- winding melody of increasing complexity over a static accompaniment in the organ.

The third movement, Go Forth As Brightness, is energetic yet lyrical, pushing forward to an exciting conclusion.