About the creation

The concerto was commissioned by internationally renowned flutist, James Galway. The goal was to create a naturally concerto for the instrument. The work has three components: A modal segment employing accepted chromatic techniques divided into three episodes: a short solo flute introduction, a slow movement with polyrhythmic elements followed by an allegro. The second part of the work is based on Ladino material containing a flute cadenza. In the orchestration I used a string chamber ensemble, harp and percussion, both as a background to the flute and to dialogue with it. The concerto’s name hints to its content. The work generally has a pastoral quality and I very much wanted the work to be easy for the listener at the first hearing despite its complexity and the technical demands it makes on soloist and orchestra.  Noam Sheriff