Court Dances for Flute and Piano by Amanda Harberg
Court Dances commissioned by a consortium of flutists from around the world who wanted to commission a piece to bring hope to the world in the aftermath of the 2015 Paris bombings. Cobus DuToit, who led the #WeBringFlowers consortium wrote: “After the Paris attacks in November 2015 I felt a strong calling to bring socially conscious art into the world. The #WeBringFlowers project is a journey commissioning six composers to write works for flute and piano that either revolt against, or courageously confront the violence that is prevalent in modern society.”
“I was inspired after hearing a conversation between a father and his son following the Paris attacks. The toddler was understandably scared of what happened close to his home and was telling the reporter that his whole family would have to leave Paris. As people were putting down flowers for the victims, the father explained that flowers were more powerful than guns and that the flowers were there to protect them. The poise and courage that the father displayed will stay with me forever. I named the project after the concept of taking something beautiful and non-threatening and turning it into something that holds a tremendous amount of power.”
Amanda Harberg embraced physical activity as a means to clear her head from troubling events and used racket ball as her inspiration for Court Dances. The piece uses traditional 16th and 17th century dance movements that are often found in Baroque suites: we will hear “Topspin,” the first movement, which is a Courante (a rapid French dance, that literally means “running”), and “Match Point,” a Tambourine (a French renaissance dance inspired by the Tambour, an Arabic drum). You can hear the driving yet erratic rhythm of a ball bouncing throughout the piece.
Lord, Thou Hast Searched Me – Psalm 139
This paraphrase of Psalm 139 was written by 17th century English poet John Milton. Milton is known for the Epic Poetry he wrote later in life, but this profound interpretation of the psalm was penned when he was just 15 years old. The text is paired with a shape note melody that likely originated in Kentucky in the middle of the 19th century.
Lord, thou hast searched me, and dost know where’er I rest, where’er I go;
thou knowest all that I have planned, and all my ways are in thy hand.
My words from thee I cannot hide; I feel thy power on every side;
oh, wondrous knowledge, awful might, unfathomed depth, unmeasured height!
Where can I go apart from thee, or whither from thy presence flee?
In heaven? It is thy dwelling fair; in death’s abode? Lo, thou art there.
If deepest darkness cover me, the darkness hideth not from thee;
to thee both night and day are bright, the darkness shineth as the light.