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Dear Piccolo Lovers, Friends and Family,
The National Flute Association has invited Erica Peel, piccoloist of the Philadelphia Orchestra and lecturer in piccolo at the Peabody Institute, to perform a concerto of her choosing for the Gala Concerto Concert at the National Flute Association Convention in August 2020!
Erica has asked award-winning composer Amanda Harberg to transform her Sonata for Piccolo and Piano into a Concerto for Piccolo and Orchestra.
Upon first hearing Amanda's Sonata for Piccolo and Piano, Erica fell in love with the piece for how it showcased the piccolo and all of its brilliant qualities. The piece allows the piccolo to truly say something, creating moments of vulnerability and heartfelt introspection next to moments of sheer joy, fun and excitement. It is an absolute gem in our repertoire, and after performing it together in 2019, Amanda and Erica re-envisioned this three-movement work as a piccolo concerto. This follows in the tradition of Ravel, who transformed many of his piano works into orchestral gems.
We are asking for your help!
In collaboration with the National Flute Association and Jennifer Grim, 2020 Program Chair, Erica would like to commission Amanda to transform her sonata into a Concerto for Piccolo and Orchestra, to be given it’s world premiere at the 2020 NFA Convention in Dallas, Texas.
A word from Erica...
I am privileged to have the opportunity to put a spotlight on Amanda’s work in the Gala Concerto Concert at NFA 2020. Commissioned by Regina Helcher Yost, Amanda’s Sonata has a way of becoming very personal to each person who plays it. You can hear Amanda’s heart in every note she wrote while identifying a piece of your own. Her music for both flute and piccolo is special and will have a lasting impact on the landscape of our standard repertoire.
When asked to perform a concerto at the Gala Concert for NFA 2020, I couldn’t shake the pull to work with Amanda. There is so much more life to this piece, and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it on a grander scale, with the lush sounds of a full orchestra lifting it to another level!
Here is a video of Erica and Amanda playing Sonata for Piccolo and Piano:
WHAT DO WE NEED?
For Amanda to undertake a project of this scope, she will need your support in the process of orchestrating and re-conceiving this work, and for copying costs. We need to raise $8,000 to help make the concerto a reality.
TIMELINE FOR RAISING MONEY:
30 days... No big deal! We know we can do it with your help.
WHY SHOULD YOU HELP?
By contributing to this fundraiser, you will become part of the ever-growing need and effort to create new art and to support living composers. Your donation will also promote the expansion of the concerto repertoire for the piccolo, an instrument that not only deserves the limelight, but deserves dynamic, expressive and riveting music such as this. No donation will be overlooked and all support is greatly appreciated.
WHAT REWARDS DO YOU GET?
For gifts of $10 or more, you will get a personal thank you!
For $250 or more your name will be printed in the published score as a contributor.
For $2,000 or more, your name will appear in the score as a patron, and Amanda and I will perform a 30-minute recital at a location of your choosing in NY, NJ, DE, MD or PA.
A Recent Review of Harberg’s Sonata for Piccolo...
This is proper music for the piccolo! A substantial 12 minute showcase of all that it can do, this piece presents a real challenge of technique, rhythm and musicianship. The opening movement showcases low register colour contrasting with angular 11/16 rhythms. The dreamy Moderato is also relatively low, requiring secure tuning and breath control to sustain the long phrases, whilst the playful Vivace uses changing metre to inject pace and flutter tonguing for impact. The absence of very high notes increases the overall appeal of the work, making it much easier to program. If you are a serious piccolo player this piece is a must!
- Just Flutes “New Music for Flute Roundup”
A word from Amanda...
I marvel at the flute world. Having been to five National Flute Conventions and having written a growing body of work for the flute family, I have gotten to know a community that enables people to become lifelong artists and learners and to realize their creative and artistic aspirations. The positive energy of this community is a thing to behold, and the conventions create momentum that lasts throughout the year.
My Sonata for Piccolo and Piano is a direct result of this collective spirit. Piccoloist Regina Helcher Yost has long been a force in expanding the piccolo repertoire. In 2018, Regina commissioned me to compose my Sonata for Piccolo and Piano. She put together a consortium of 23 piccoloists to co-commission the work, and Regina and I gave the world premiere of the sonata at the 2018 NFA Convention in Orlando. For me, personal connection and communication through my music is of primary importance, and knowing that this commission came from such a community effort was deeply motivating, as was the opportunity to premiere it with Regina at the NFA Convention.
The following year, at the Flute Society of Greater Philadelphia’s fair, I had the opportunity to perform a recital with Erica Peel that included my Sonata. Collaborating with Erica was an incredible experience, both musically and personally. I came away inspired to continue composing music for this amazing family of instruments. Erica and I started discussing concerto possibilities, and agreed that this sonata would work beautifully as a concerto. Having it performed by Erica, with a world premiere at the 2020 National Flute Association Convention, would create a substantial, exciting, and deeply meaningful contribution to our community.
2020 NFA President Jennifer Grim , composer Amanda Harberg, and 2019 NFA President Joanna Bassett.
The National Flute Association has invited Erica Peel, piccoloist of the Philadelphia Orchestra and lecturer in piccolo at the Peabody Institute, to perform a concerto of her choosing for the Gala Concerto Concert at the National Flute Association Convention in August 2020!
Erica has asked award-winning composer Amanda Harberg to transform her Sonata for Piccolo and Piano into a Concerto for Piccolo and Orchestra.
Upon first hearing Amanda's Sonata for Piccolo and Piano, Erica fell in love with the piece for how it showcased the piccolo and all of its brilliant qualities. The piece allows the piccolo to truly say something, creating moments of vulnerability and heartfelt introspection next to moments of sheer joy, fun and excitement. It is an absolute gem in our repertoire, and after performing it together in 2019, Amanda and Erica re-envisioned this three-movement work as a piccolo concerto. This follows in the tradition of Ravel, who transformed many of his piano works into orchestral gems.
We are asking for your help!
In collaboration with the National Flute Association and Jennifer Grim, 2020 Program Chair, Erica would like to commission Amanda to transform her sonata into a Concerto for Piccolo and Orchestra, to be given it’s world premiere at the 2020 NFA Convention in Dallas, Texas.
A word from Erica...
I am privileged to have the opportunity to put a spotlight on Amanda’s work in the Gala Concerto Concert at NFA 2020. Commissioned by Regina Helcher Yost, Amanda’s Sonata has a way of becoming very personal to each person who plays it. You can hear Amanda’s heart in every note she wrote while identifying a piece of your own. Her music for both flute and piccolo is special and will have a lasting impact on the landscape of our standard repertoire.
When asked to perform a concerto at the Gala Concert for NFA 2020, I couldn’t shake the pull to work with Amanda. There is so much more life to this piece, and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it on a grander scale, with the lush sounds of a full orchestra lifting it to another level!
Here is a video of Erica and Amanda playing Sonata for Piccolo and Piano:
WHAT DO WE NEED?
For Amanda to undertake a project of this scope, she will need your support in the process of orchestrating and re-conceiving this work, and for copying costs. We need to raise $8,000 to help make the concerto a reality.
TIMELINE FOR RAISING MONEY:
30 days... No big deal! We know we can do it with your help.
WHY SHOULD YOU HELP?
By contributing to this fundraiser, you will become part of the ever-growing need and effort to create new art and to support living composers. Your donation will also promote the expansion of the concerto repertoire for the piccolo, an instrument that not only deserves the limelight, but deserves dynamic, expressive and riveting music such as this. No donation will be overlooked and all support is greatly appreciated.
WHAT REWARDS DO YOU GET?
For gifts of $10 or more, you will get a personal thank you!
For $250 or more your name will be printed in the published score as a contributor.
For $2,000 or more, your name will appear in the score as a patron, and Amanda and I will perform a 30-minute recital at a location of your choosing in NY, NJ, DE, MD or PA.
A Recent Review of Harberg’s Sonata for Piccolo...
This is proper music for the piccolo! A substantial 12 minute showcase of all that it can do, this piece presents a real challenge of technique, rhythm and musicianship. The opening movement showcases low register colour contrasting with angular 11/16 rhythms. The dreamy Moderato is also relatively low, requiring secure tuning and breath control to sustain the long phrases, whilst the playful Vivace uses changing metre to inject pace and flutter tonguing for impact. The absence of very high notes increases the overall appeal of the work, making it much easier to program. If you are a serious piccolo player this piece is a must!
- Just Flutes “New Music for Flute Roundup”
A word from Amanda...
I marvel at the flute world. Having been to five National Flute Conventions and having written a growing body of work for the flute family, I have gotten to know a community that enables people to become lifelong artists and learners and to realize their creative and artistic aspirations. The positive energy of this community is a thing to behold, and the conventions create momentum that lasts throughout the year.
My Sonata for Piccolo and Piano is a direct result of this collective spirit. Piccoloist Regina Helcher Yost has long been a force in expanding the piccolo repertoire. In 2018, Regina commissioned me to compose my Sonata for Piccolo and Piano. She put together a consortium of 23 piccoloists to co-commission the work, and Regina and I gave the world premiere of the sonata at the 2018 NFA Convention in Orlando. For me, personal connection and communication through my music is of primary importance, and knowing that this commission came from such a community effort was deeply motivating, as was the opportunity to premiere it with Regina at the NFA Convention.
The following year, at the Flute Society of Greater Philadelphia’s fair, I had the opportunity to perform a recital with Erica Peel that included my Sonata. Collaborating with Erica was an incredible experience, both musically and personally. I came away inspired to continue composing music for this amazing family of instruments. Erica and I started discussing concerto possibilities, and agreed that this sonata would work beautifully as a concerto. Having it performed by Erica, with a world premiere at the 2020 National Flute Association Convention, would create a substantial, exciting, and deeply meaningful contribution to our community.
2020 NFA President Jennifer Grim , composer Amanda Harberg, and 2019 NFA President Joanna Bassett.
Organizer and beneficiary
Amanda Harberg
Beneficiary