Firefly Triptych for Alto Flute and Piano

Amanda Harberg writes great flute music and these three atmospheric pieces are really lovely. Journey into Night, marked' Nocturnal and freely' has an improvisational feel throughout. The alto meanders over the elusive accompaniment which is constantly shifting rhythmically and harmonically, making the burst of energy in the middle a surprise. 'Sad and haunted' indicates that Invocation is declamatory in nature with short alto phrases over translucent chords. The 'attacca' into Midnight Jam is seamless with very little change of mood until a scherzo-like section suddenly appears. This is infused with jazz rhythms and harmonies, and has an almost hoe-down feel in places. The return to the Invocation mood at the end is as beautiful as it is unexpected. Well written and imaginative, these three movements are utterly compelling!