Program Note
Flare is a response to Beethoven’s Op. 130 string quartet. I borrowed and adapted motives from the first two movements of his quartet, using these as a jumping off point to explore moods of aggression, apprehension, and longing. I was inspired by the visceral, embodied energy of Beethoven’s writing and the strong contrasts in the Op. 130 quartet. A flare is a sudden outburst or blaze of light, excitement, or anger. The music expresses the unpredictability and changeability of a flare with rapidly changing key areas and melodic lines that spin out rhapsodically. Brief moments of repose create a space for reflection before the music picks up again. Flare is dedicated to my Aunt Rose Harvey.