Stained Glass Images 4. Two Oriental Panels

IV. Two Oriental Panels from Stained Glass Images
Composed by Sonny Burnette (b. 1952)
for Flute Choir
Published by Alry Publications
Includes score and parts

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

Winner of the James Madison University Flute Choir 1995 Fifteenth Annual Composition Competition

The movements of Stained Glass Images are based on stained-glass panels created during the sixteenth through the twentieth centuries, primarily throughout Europe.

IV. Two Oriental Panels

In 1888, William Stewart, inspired by the beauty of Japan, designed two panels for the Colearne House in Auchterarder, Scotland, In the Art Nouveau style, they are characterized by swirling asymmetrical naturalism; clean, sinuous lines, and an exaggerated floral theme. Also depicted are dragonflies and a soft moonlit ocean. Fundamental colors are deep blues and ambers, white, turquoise, maroon, and various shades of red and orange for flower blossoms. The movement is comprised of four layered melodic lines, derived from the pentatonic scale, which form the foundation for the subsequent melody presented by the piccolos. Adding rhythmic interest to the movement is the combination of 4/4 and 3/8 meters. The piece concludes with the opening ostinato figure repeated in octaves in all parts.