Description
The Conjurer
Concerto for Flute and Piano
Composed and Published by Dana Wilson
Duration: 17 minutes
Includes score and flute part
This is a reduction of the Concerto for Flute and Chamber Ensemble.
Contents:
I. Incantation
II. Dance of Exorcism
Program Notes:
“The Conjurer” is inspired by the world's shamanic traditions. The piece is ritualistic, while not trying to replicate any particular tradition.
A shaman is a person regarded as having access to, and influence in, the world of good and evil spirits, especially among some peoples of northern Asia and the Americas. Typically such people enter a trance state during a ritual, and practice divination and healing. “Conjurer” is the related English term (originating in middle English: “con” (“with”) + “jurare: (“law”)–a person who has the power to solemnly call upon spirits by invocation or spell.
The flutist in this piece is the conjurer, who in the first movement calls forth the spirits. As they emerge, the spirits begin a ritualistic dance, hesitant at first but then ever more intensely, as the flutie's conjuring commands. Finally, the conjurer departs, having accomplished both exorism and ablution.
The work was commissioned by a consortium of flutists and ensembles.