NickPlanas

Sonata for Flute and Orchestra (2026)

Originally composed in 2014 as a potential diploma piece for Flute & Piano, this Sonata was orchestrated in 2019 for a scheduled 2020 performance which was sadly cancelled due to the covid pandemic. It is now scheduled to be performed on May 10th 2026 at Hook Norton, by Hannah Gillingham (Flute) accompanied by the Banbury Chamber Orchestra.

It was reviewed in the March 2015 edition of PAN as follows:

“The musical style is contemporary classical – think the appealing tone-world of Ravel or Prokoviev – requiring few extended techniques (a few harmonics, a simple rolling glissando in the second movement and fast double-tonguing) but needing a reliable finger facility at speed across the range of the flute (up to top C#/Db), and attention to dynamic and articulated detail.

The main subject of the first movement, Allegro con pungiglione (meaning “fast, with sting”) feature athletic semiquavers, with a rising octotonic scalic figure leading to scurrying across the flute’s range, interspersed with crisp punctuating phrases. As in the whole sonata, the interplay between the flute and piano is conversational and dramatic, with imaginative use of piano range to effect colour changes from twinkly to dark.

The middle Grave movement is precisely notated, although in performance the outer sections give the impression of being very free in style; minimalistic oscillating piano chords in the middle section support a flute melody indicated to be played “with so much beauty”.

The final Vivace rondo movement is a fast and furious rhythmical dance, shifting and overlaying complex time signatures over an even quaver pulse as the music works towards an exciting and complex conclusion.”

 

 

Orchestral Score & Parts: £35.00

Miniature Study Score: £8.00 (please contact me directly)

The audio files are generated by Sibelius software until a live recording becomes available