Description

Two Venezuelan Etudes for solo flute.

COMMISSIONED BY THE NATIONAL FLUTE ASSOCIATION 2007 FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL SOLOIST COMPETITION

These two etudes were written as a set and are programmatic in nature. They repre- sent a light-hearted commentary on popular social idiosyncrasies about women, men and their relationships (or lack thereof). In “La Bella” the protagonist is a beautiful girl, who besides being beautiful is also sensitive. The opening theme highlights her longing for the “Right Man” and also the sadness of not finding him. When the theme gets re-stated in ornamented fashion (as though improvised), “La Bella” imagines her ideal man, sensitive, capable of understanding her. After this momentary flight of fancy ends, the original theme returns and the etude ends with an unfinished cadence, representing the question “Will she find him?” The second etude represents “El Terco” (The Stubborn), a very self-assured, but annoying man who wants to win the love of “La Bella”. “El Terco” is not what “La Bella” had in mind, but after being impressed by his improvisational skills, she decides that maybe he is not too bad after all. The fragmented statement of the merengue melody, represents the flirtation that ensues between the two and the piece winds down to the original ostinato rhythm and it is up to the listener to decide weather the couple gets together or not.