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program notes

In the summer of 2022, I decided to pick up a new instrument to learn, this time, the flute. As a child I played the accordion for years, as well as various percussion instruments, and when I started to take my composition studies more seriously, I began, like most of us, practicing the piano as well. I thought learning a melodic instrument, especially a woodwind, where breathing and phrasing is so important, would be beneficial for my compositions as well.

So when my girlfriend’s birthday was coming up in a few months (she’s a fabulous harpist) I decided to write her a set of short and simple melodies for an amateur flautist like me to play, in dialogue with her harp playing. In the writing process, I mightily overestimated my own flute-playing abilities; also expecting me to progress at a faster rate in the months leading up to her birthday. So unfortunately — thus far — we have never gotten around to performing these little duets together, but irregardless, I hope I can make some other musicians happy with this little set of romances.

Completed: September 2022

Revised: May 2024