Product Description
An Avaloch Divertimento was begun-in fact the first two movements were
completed-at the Avaloch Farm Music Institute in New
Hampshire. Avaloch or Abhlach, is
from the old Irish word meaning, "place of the apple trees." The sacred Isle of
the Apple Trees, Avalon-where Arthur, King of the Britons, was taken to be
healed of his dreadful wounds-takes its name from this ancient word. Avaloch Farm Music Institute (AFMI) in New
Hampshire is also a magical place where chamber music groups come to work and
create in an atmosphere free from the distractions of everyday life. In the
summer of 2021 I had the pleasure and honor of being a resident of AFMI along
with Areli Mendoza-Pannone, Robert Frazier, and Mark Evans as we work-shopped
my song cycle, Quarry Songs. Areli,
Bobby, and Mark had to go back to the real world half way through the
residency, leaving me at AFMI to begin work on An Avaloch Divertimento.
The first movement is an Aubade,
which are traditionally morning love songs-as opposed to evening love songs or
serenades. In the seventeenth century aubades became associated with
instrumental works depicting sunrises. It is this sense of the word that is
used here, complete with a bird-song oboe cadenza.
Pippin takes its name from a variety
of apple. While at AFMI I would take afternoon walks through the nearby apple
orchard to beautiful Walker Pond. It was on one of these walks that I came up
with the first draft of the tune used in the central fughetta of the movement.
The word, "pippin" is also included in Carolyn Forchés poem, The Museum of Stones, which I had set as
the final movement of Quarry Songs.
The final movement, Amhrán, means
"song" in Irish and is a simple song form with three interwoven themes that
emulate the Irish Bodhran (frame drum), fiddle, and singer.
Many thanks to Board Chair, Alfred
Tauber, Artistic Director, Deborah Sherr, and Operations Director, Hannah Landes
and the whole AFMI staff for creating such a wonderful refuge for musicians to
work, learn, and create.
Learn about Avaloch Farm Music Institute at www.avalochfarmmusic.org.
Learn
about more compositions by Brett L. Wery at www.BRETTLWERY.com.
Duration: 12
minutes
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