Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra Op.48 (1995) c. 20'00"

(0.2.0.0/2.0.0.0./timp/vib/mar/cel/pno/solo fl & hp/strings)

Commissioned by Hyun Sun Na, The Florida Philharmonic, The Minnesota Orchestra, The Cincinnati Symphony, and the Dallas Symphony.

First performed on November 1st, 1995 by James Galway, flute and Kathy Kienzel, harp with The Minnesota Orchestra conducted by Edo de Waart

ABOUT

The Concerto for Flute Harp and Orchestra was commissioned by a consortium consisting of harpist Hyun-Sun Na, the Florida Philharmonic, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Cincinnati Symphony and the Dallas Symphony.  It is dedicated to James Galway who premiered the work with harpist Kathy Kienzel and the Minnesota Orchestra on November 1st, 1995.  The Concerto is scored for an orchestra consisting of two oboes, two horns, timpani, vibraphone, marimba, celesta, piano and strings.  Omitting the last four instruments, this is the same orchestration as the Mozart Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra.

The work was written at the request of James Galway, who commissioned and premiered my Concerto for Flute and Orchestra Op.39.  While the latter work stressed the virtuoso capabilities of the flute, the present concerto emphasizes the lyrical capabilities of the two instruments.  The Concerto is in one unbroken movement of about twenty minutes duration.  It is in a binary form whose harmonic and thematic material are derived from the opening accompanimental and melodic phrases of the work.

The Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra has been recorded for release on the BMG label by flutist James Galway,  harpist Hyun-Sun Na , and the London Mozart Players conducted by the composer.

RECORDINGS

REVIEWS

“…While succinct, this description does not address the incredible beauty and artistry demonstrated by Liebermann’s orchestration. Clearly Liebermann is a genius of orchestral color. He understands the properties and possibilities of musical instruments and weaves the timbres together to create aural expressions of exquisite beauty…Particularly notable is the middle of the work, in which the percussion creates an almost other-wordly effect….Like a good novel, however, this concerto makes the audience eager to remain with it to the end. Seldom is such excitement found in music of this genre. At the end of the millennium, it is a privilege to hear a composition that may truly come to be considered the finest flute and harp concerto of the twentieth century.”
Notes

”…Lowell Liebermann’s vast output is attracting wide renown. His Concerto for Flute and Harp, a nocturne-like work that engages its whole ensemble, as well as the featured soloists in its fruitful expansions and mood-shifts. It has immediate appeal and a depth that certainly justifies Liebermann’s popularity.”
The Eagle

“Best of all was Lowell Liebermann’s Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra…”
LATimes