Opus 44
A Gentle Musicke (1969)
for Flute and Strings
Duration: 11 min.
Recording: Laurel LR-849
Premiere: 1975; M. Densmore; Colorado PO; R. Schraeder-Hensen
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A Gentle Musicke was written in the winter and spring of 1969 while I was on the faculty of the University of Western Ontario, in London, Canada. I have used the felicitous combination of flute and strings. The piece is in three connected sections and, despite some brooding moments in the middle part, is probably one of my few really clearly happy works. It is probably no coincidence that it was composed at the same time as Perchance to Dream, a large symphonic poem concerned with the sub-conscious imagery and feelings with considerable technical complexities and some moments of intense disquiet and fright. (Notes by Arnold Rosner)