Four Glimpses of Night

Four Glimpses of Night by Binnette Lipper
Written for Solo Flute

Four Glimpses of Night was inspired by a poem of the same title written by Frank Marshall Davis. The poem, full of colorful illusion and metaphors, is in four parts and reflected musically in four movements by the composer. Written for solo flute, each movement is very expressive with searching, fluid lines in varying rhythmic patterns with changing tempos and shifting moods. At times agitated, whimsical, cheerful, mysterious or sensuous, the variety of tempo changes – mostly medium to slow – and mood shifts include agitato, expressivo con poco rubato, fast, freely, and cantando. The combination of richly musical and often theatrical content allows the player to indulge in imagination, light and dark use of tone, more free phrasing and dynamic range. This all helps to create a sense of magical wonder and changing spirit, as if accompanying four vignettes.