Stained Glass Images 1 – 6 (Complete)

Stained Glass Images
Composed by Sonny Burnette
for Flute Choir
Published by Alry Publications
Includes score and parts

Instrumentation:
2 Piccolos
4 C Flutes
Alto Flute (or C Flute)
Bass Flute

Contents:
I.   The Dawning of the Last Day
II.  The Rose Window
III. Cockatoos
IV.  Two Oriental Panels
V.   Colour Tones of Music
VI.  Treasures of the Mediterranean

A modern American composer, he teaches flute, saxophone, music theory and MIDI computer music, as well as being a published author.  Once available individually, all the movements will be contained in this complete volume.  The individual movements are based on stained-glass panels created during the sixteenth through twentieth centuries, primarily throughout Europe.  The movements are Dawning of the Last Day, the Rose Window, Cockatoos, Two Oriental Panels, Colour Tones of Music and Treasures of the Mediterranean. The first movement has the spirit of the foreboding subject, which is captured in the minor tonality and ethereal melodic lines.  Sunburst spires are depicted with short scale passages at the end of each movement.  The second movement represents the circular window panel in a repeating circle-progession harmonic pattern, which produces a chaconne form.  Albeit with a contemporary flavor, the movement suggests contrapuntal organ music.  In the third movement, the playful antics of the cockatoor are attempted to be captured through syncopated rhythms, close harmonies, trills and gradually increasing tempo.  The fourth movement is comprised of four layered melodic lines, derived from the pentatonic scale, and concludes with the opening ostinato figure repeated in octaves in all of the parts.  The middle flute parts provide an eighth-note ostinato figure in the fifth movement, suggestive of electronic music.  Dissonant melodic harmonies enrich the the vertical sonorities reflective of the abstract window design.  The final movement opens with a rising and falling whole-tone scales. which portray the aquatic element of the panels.  The struggle between good and evil is suggesting in the martial theme and driving rhythms.  Focusing on the peaceful aquatic imagery of the second panel, the movement gracefully fades away.