Concerto for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra

The composition Concerto for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra is written for and dedicated to Iris Derke and DCINY in celebration of their ten-year anniversary in 2018. Iris suggested the work be a companion of the famous Concerto for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra by W.A. Mozart, but with Greek ideas derived from the composer's native country, Greece.

The composer used some materials from past work in new combinations. For instance, in the first movement, "Reflections," a whole-tone figure stated by the flute and harp as well as some cadences are drawn from an old work using the poetry of the great contemporary poet Constantine Kavafis.

The second movement, "Hymn," employs the Delphic Hymn, dated 138 BC and found in Delphi. The composer used this music for an LSU theatre production of Sophocles' play Oedipus Rex, directed by Bill Harbin. The final movement, "Dance," is a setting of traditional Greek dances that share that modal quality and lively, mixed meter rhythms.

The composer states, "In reality, the entire piece is derived from my background as a Greek musician."