Concerto for Flügelhorn(1993/1994)
For String Orchestra (or) Wind Ensemble
String Orchestra (6.5.4.4.1 minimum, in players)
Wind Ensemble: Picc.3fl.clEb.3cl.BC.bn / 4hn.4.3.0 / perc(2) / cb
Year: 1996 (orchestra); 1997 (wind ensemble)
Duration: 25’
First Performance:
String Orchestra Version: 28 February 1993 / Woodstock Concert Hall, Woodstock, New York / Donna Hagen, flügelhorn / The Woodstock Chamber Orchestra / Luis Garcia Renart
Wind Ensemble Version: 21 May 1994 / Olympia Concert Hall, Olympia, Washington / Donna Hagen, flügelhorn / Northwest Washington Wind Orchestra / Carolyn Vian
Movement Titles: Precise Funk (3:04) | Slow Swing (7:00) | Driving Bop (4:30)
Publisher: E.C. Schirmer | rental
Program Note:
The first movement, composed in New York City, combines a taut 80s rhythmic groove from Michael Torke’s Adjustable Wrench with a pleasant, 30s walking tune reminiscent of Percy Grainger. The second movement, composed at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, is an extended shuffle vocalise for the soloist over a 32-bar chorus. Hagen writes, “Around Christmas 1984 I was living in Philadelphia when I had word that Les Thimmig, my first composition teacher, had just become a father. I immediately sketched out the eight-bar head of a number from Les’ Stanzas, Book V from memory and composed some choruses on it, which I then sent off to him under the title Merry Christmas, it’s a Boy.” Verne Seifert made the world premiere recording of the concerto with the Baylor University Wind Ensemble, conducted by Michael Haithcock on the Arsis label, in 1998.
Selected Reviews:
The flügelhorn concerto is a real crossover gem, using popular and film music influences in a luscious and appealing — and very clever — concert piece context. The composer has a wonderful sense of instrumental color, and an accessible harmonic language.
— Records International Reviews , Feb 99
Concerto for Flügelhorn and Wind Ensemble (1994) takes its impetus from what might be called ready-made styles, with its three movements titled 'precise funk,' 'slow swing,' and 'driving bop.' 'Precise funk' is Hagen taking a cue and a musical riff from Michael Torke; 'slow swing' draws from the smoky music of classic movies; 'driving bop' sounds more like swing, inevitably lacking the edge of its improvised namesake.
— Robert Kirzinger, Fanfare Magazine, September/October, 1999
The Concerto for Flugelhorn is a 'composer's holiday' in that it uses pop idioms as its source material. 'Precise Funk' actually resembles East Coast jazz more than anything else, while 'Slow swing' is an homage to 1940s film noir soundtracks. The final movement, 'Driving Bop' is a tribute to 1950s jazz that has moments that call to mind the work of Miles Davis.
— Tower Record Reviews, Online, 1992