20th century
Baroque
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20th century
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Solo repertoire
Piccolo
Alto flute
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Harbison John
Aitken, Robert
Amirov, Fikret
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Amram, David
Andriessen, Jurriaan
Arnold, Malcolm
Arrieu, Claude
Auric, Georges
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Flute concerto
Flute concerto
John Harbison: Flute concerto was written in 1993. The work was a prestigious joint commission by the American Composers Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. The concerto is dedicated to the memory of William Boyd, a close friend of the composer.
The world premiere took place on October 14, 1993, at Symphony Hall in Boston. It was performed by Jeanne Baxtresser (then Principal Flute of the New York Philharmonic) and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Seiji Ozawa.
The concerto was written specifically with the playing style of Jeanne Baxtresser in mind. Harbison consulted with her extensively during the composition process. Baxtresser’s legendary "big, silver sound" and her ability to project over a large orchestra influenced Harbison to write a part that is highly virtuosic but avoids the "smallness" often associated with solo flute writing.
The consortium premiere by Ransom Wilson with the American Composers Orchestra took place in 1995, completing the second "leg" of the initial commission agreement.
The dedication to William Boyd gives the work a poignant undercurrent. While much of the concerto is sparkling and energetic, the slow second movement acts as a deeply personal "In Memoriam," showcasing Harbison's ability to infuse Neoclassical structures with profound human emotion.
By 1993, Harbison was arguably the most sought-after symphonic composer in America. He had recently completed his tenure as New Music Advisor for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and was deeply involved with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The Flute Concerto represents a shift toward a more "transparent" and "shimmering" orchestral palette, moving away from the denser textures of his earlier symphonies.
Randolph Bowman (flute), David Alan Miller (conductor), Albany Symphony Orchestra, 2000, Albany / Naxos
1. Allegro moderato e leggiero
Randolph Bowman (flute), David Alan Miller (conductor), Albany Symphony Orchestra, 2000, Albany / Naxos
2. Allegro volatile
Randolph Bowman (flute), David Alan Miller (conductor), Albany Symphony Orchestra, 2000, Albany / Naxos
3. Allegro grazioso
Harbison John
John Harbison (1938) is an American composer, known for a style that seamlessly bridges the gap between rigorous Bach-inspired counterpoint and the improvisational energy of jazz.
Born in Orange, New Jersey, in a family of a distinguished professor of history at Princeton University, he became very interested in jazz as a teenager. As a pianist, he led his own jazz group. Later, he became fascinated with the cantatas of J.S. Bach, which eventually led him to found the Cantata Singers in Boston, cementing a lifelong devotion to Baroque vocal structures. He attended Harvard University, studying with Walter Piston, whose Neoclassical clarity deeply influenced Harbison’s early works, like the Duo for Flute and Piano. He earned his MFA from Princeton, where he was mentored by Roger Sessions and Earl Kim.
Harbison has spent the majority of his professional life in the Boston area, serving as a pillar of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) music faculty since 1969. Among his most noteworthy compositions are opera The Great Gatsby (commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera), six symphonies, and a vast array of chamber music.
His musical style is often described as "renewed tonality" that feels both ancient and modern.