An instrument dating from ancient times, the flute turned out to be the ideal voice to express what was in the heart and mind of composer Samuel Jones. Here's the story of his Flute Concerto, premiered in 2018 by The Philadelphia Orchestra.
When writing the work, Jones was grieving over the recent death of his brother. The concerto begins with a lament, using a progression of notes with a falling half step, which he calls 'the Phrygian sigh.' "It’s that dee ah, dee ah," he says, singing. "In every culture, it’s an expression of grief.”
Grief is part of being human; so is the desire to play, laugh, and dance.
Jones wanted to show the beautiful virtuosity of the flute, especially when played by Khaner.
“The second movement is sort of a waltz, which is sort of playful and a little twisted,” says the soloist, Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Flute Jeffrey Khaner. “It’s fun and funny … There are spicy elements you might not expect that make it so much more interesting and playful.”
Jones wanted to show the beautiful virtuosity of the flute, especially when played by Khaner. He also wanted to tap into the role Philadelphia has played in the evolution of this country.
And so the concerto explores human yearning on a larger scale, in the third movement referencing tunes of social change, from the days of revolution through the Civil War, and civil rights era to the present. “Recognizing, with the choice of these pieces," says Jones, "we are still struggling to make this a more perfect union."
Jones imagined a military field review. “The drum major of the field review reminded me of Martin Luther King’s saying: “If you want to call me a drum major, say I was a drum major for justice. So the flute plays the role of the drum major.”
