Das Schloss in der Nacht (The Castle by Night) for Two Flutes, Op. 17

This is an evocative piece for two flutes lasting six and a half minutes. The title means The Castle in the Night and Ono's evocative writing conjures up images of the ghosts that might appear each night in a spooky castle.

The piece was written in 2012 and is a contemporary work with an approachable feel, aimed at advanced students and amateur players. The two parts are equally balanced, sometimes playing in rhythmic unison and other times dovetailing semiquaver lines. There's plenty of variety within this piece, which starts off mysteriously at a relatively slow tempo. The movement (and tension) gradually increases, with the imaginative performance instructions helping players to conjure up a sense of narrative. The second section is marked 'bravely', with building rhythmic patterns helping to create a sense of courage. Then, 'like a gust of wind', some fast notes appear almost from nowhere, with both parts moving in octaves. The opening material returns towards the end of the piece, with a sense of dialogue between the parts.

This is an enjoyable work which would be a lot of fun to perform for two well-matched players.