(from FLUTELIST posting)

I'll be giving the world premiere of David Finko's piccolo concerto with piano reduction on the Hidden Gems concert, Thursday afternoon August 7 at 12:30 in the ballroom of the Regency Hyatt, Kansas City, Mo. at the National Flute Association Convention. The music will be available to purchase at the Theodore Presser Booth and at other retailers such as Flute World. The orchestral parts will be made available through Presser's rental library. My commission of his work is supported by the Flute Society of Greater Philadelphia and fellow piccoloists across the country.

The premiere of the concerto with orchestra will take place November 2008. November 7 at 8:00 PM with the Abington Chamber Orchestra and November 12 with the Kutztown University Symphony. Details on these performances to follow.

Personally, I like this piccolo concerto the best out of all that has been written in the last two decades. It is by a brilliant Russian/ American composer in a style that harkens to Mussorgsky and Shostakovich, especially in the string writing. The music is dramatic and bold in parts, nasty and cynical at fleeting moments, militaristic in sections but more often it's tender and sublimely poetic. The composer knows how much I enjoy lyricism, color and style changes and wrote with this in mind. The technical demands are not great. I have been asked by professionals about this work as a choice for student competition. I personally think it's a good choice. I think piccoloists will find approachable to both instruct and perform. The orchestra accompaniment is very flexible - it can be performed by a community or professional, full or chamber orchestra.

Updated on 7/20/08