Piccolo
Baroque
Classical
Romantic
20th century
21st century
Solo repertoire
Piccolo
Alto flute
Bass flute
Benshoof Ken
Benshoof, Ken
Dehnhard, Tilmann
Donatoni, Franco
Liebermann, Lowell
Loeb, David
Persichetti, Vincent
Vivaldi, Antonio
Wilder, Alec
Spindrift sonata for piccolo and piano
K. Benshoof: Spindrift for piccolo flute and piano was written in 1992 by comission of Alicia Suarez who wanted a new piece for her newly acquired piccolo. The composition was premiered by Alicia Suarez and Ken Benshoof as a pianist at Calvary Lutheran Church in Seattle.
Benshoof has said: “Spindrift refers to the spray that blows off the top of waves when the wind is up. I chose this title not because it necessarily describes the piece, but rather because thinking of small boats on the open water yields some interesting relations to the music.”
Ken Benshoof (1933) is an American pianist and composer, mostly known for his chamber music compositions: especially – eight works commissioned by Kronos String Quartet.
Born in Nebraska, he went to high school in Fairbanks Alaska. Studied at the University if Washington, San Francisco State University and in London, at the Guildhall School of Music as a Fulbright Scholar.
His most influent teachers were Volfgangs Darzins, John Verall, Roger Nixon, George Frederick McKay, and Alfred Neiman.
Since 1960 he resides in Seattle and teaches composition at the University of Washington.