Flute Concerto

I. Incantation
II. Cosmic Dance
III. A Shift in Gravity
IV . Worldbuilding
V . Equilibrium

This concerto, scored for a small orchestra, highlights a chamber-like transparency that enhances the intricate interplay between the solo flute and the ensemble. The harp, celeste, and vibraphone play central timbral roles, frequently intertwining to create shimmering, luminous textures.

In five seamless movements, the work unfolds gradually, navigating evolving sonic landscapes and shifting perspectives. The first movement, Incantation, introduces the flute soloist as a solitary voice, casting a spell-like invocation against rippling chords from the celeste and harp, with muted strings sustaining motionless chords. A trumpet signals the transition into the second movement, Cosmic Dance, where a gently lilting rhythm emerges and steadily builds momentum. The orchestra peels off fragments of the soloist’s melody, gradually weaving them into an increasingly intricate and powerful texture.

The third movement, A Shift in Gravity, evokes a dreamlike suspension, as if a fracturing of reality. Musical ideas drift weightlessly through the texture, with fleeting jazz-inflected gestures appearing momentarily before vanishing just as quickly. Energy is reinvigorated promptly at the start of the fourth movement, Worldbuilding, as the flute engages in dynamic and intricate interplay with subsections of the orchestra. Rhythmic tension builds as syncopated accents and shifting patterns drive a kinetic exchange.

Finally, the concerto resolves with Equilibrium. The flute, having navigated its place within the orchestral fabric, finds a contemplative stillness. Though tinged with melancholy, this movement is ultimately about acceptance and balance. The work comes to rest with harp, celeste, and vibraphone, the same trio that coloured its opening moments. The choice to frame the opening and closing moments of the piece in A minor reflects an embrace of clarity and directness—eschewing unnecessary complexity in favour of musical choices that feel both inevitable and authentic.

Instrumentation
1111 - 1100 - 1 Perc. - Hp. - Cel. - Fl. Solo - Strings

Year of Composition
2025

Duration
20 minutes

Commissioned by
Commissioned for Australian flautist Sally Walker by Andrew Johnston to mark the 93rd Birthday of his mother Stephanie Lillian Johnston.

Premiere
Sally Walker, Geelong Symphony Orchestra, 25 October 2025

Score
Coming soon.