22nd Annual Summer Metropolitan Flute Festival Orchestra

From enchanting flutes and ancient abbeys to celestial adventures and Irish selkies, sit back and relax as you experience Enchanted Flutes of the Emerald Isle.

Eugene Magalif’s Adventure is a paraphrase of two German themes. One theme is quoted in the melody, and the other in the accompaniment.  Adventure is written in the style of a variety show of the 1940’s with elements of classical music.  The performance involves an acceleration of the tempo in the reprise and until the end. *

MET contrabass flutist Jonathan Cohen composed A Call to Unity for the gala closing concert of the 2025 National Flute Association’s Annual Convention in Atlanta, GA. While the world at large may become fractious, the flute world remains a welcoming refuge, a place where all flute players and flute lovers are accepted in their full variety.  This piece celebrates that unity.  It begins with a lone player (the piccolo) tentatively calling out, which others then answer, first slowly and then more rapidly, culminating with all playing in unison.  Jumping to a brighter tempo, the ensemble then launches into a bold and joyous march, reveling in loud purpose, quieting to a satisfied comradery, and returning for a triumphant finish. **

Kylemore Abbey from Innes Glas Mór is the second movement of Lisa LeMay’s three  movement work. “Kylemore Abbey musically portrays an oasis of peace in a restless world. Once a fairy-tale castle, the Abbey has become home to the Benedictine Nuns of Ireland for over 100 years.” *** Located in the scenic Connemara Region of County Galway, Kylemore Abbey became the new home of the Irish Dames of Ypres (a group of Irish Benedictine nuns) after the destruction of their original home in Ypres, Belgium in 1920.  The Metropolitan Flute Orchestra is thrilled to be returning to Kylemore Abbey to present a concert in the beautiful Neo-Gothic Chapel on the grounds of the abbey during their upcoming concert tour to Ireland. In 2008, the MET first performed at the abbey for a very full audience, including the Irish Benedictine Nuns. The nuns had tears in their eyes, saying that our music was a beautiful Irish prayer that they will carry in their hearts forever. 

Flirtations was composed by MET contrabass flutist Phyllis Avidan Louke and premiered in 2018.  “Flirtations has a Brazilian flavor utilizing 6th, 7th and 9th chords and syncopated melody and rhythms. Written in two sections, the first section is written in the style of a samba with chord progressions including 6th and 7th chords, and the second section is written as a bossa nova using 9th chords.  Both sections feature syncopated Brazilian rhythms, some played by the claves, and some played by the flutes. There is much interplay between the parts and the melody flows between all the sections.  The piccolo part features counter melodies, and flirty interjections with grace notes that are conversational and sometimes answered by the contrabass or bass flutes.” **** 

Composed for the 2022 NFA Collegiate Flute Choir in Chicago, IL, Deep Dish, by Gareth McLearnon, is an original composition that celebrates this famous Chicago style pie-like pizza. Using contemporary flute techniques with exciting rhythms and chords, as well as a few surprise orchestral antics, this piece will have you craving a piece of this delicious style of pizza. McLearnon describes this composition – “Begins outrageously, gets groovy, gets epic, then finishes with a bang!”

Riverumba by Irish flutist Katrina Emtage was written in January 2013 for the Cork Adult Flute Ensemble in Cork, Ireland and first performed in Bandon, County Cork.  Riverumba uses simple pentatonic motifs to build layered texture contrasting rumba rhythms with flowing, tightly interwoven lines.  The audience will be enveloped in Irish tonalities with rhumba rhythms.  

Charles Villiers Stanford’s Irish Rhapsody No 1, Op 78 was composed in March 1902, with Stanford conducting the premiere performance in October of the same year.  The first of his six Irish Rhapsodies, Stanford masterfully composed the first movement based on the energetic Irish folk song Leatherbags Donnell. The second movement is inspired by the famous Londonderry Air or O Danny Boy.  For the third movement, which you will hear in today’s concert, Stanford skillfully weaves these two Irish melodies together, creating an orchestral masterpiece.  All of Stanford’s Irish Rhapsodies are founded on the traditional airs of his native Ireland.

Stanford was a distinguished educator, conductor, composer and organist whose works were extremely popular during his time.  Instrumental in founding the Royal College of Music in England, he also was a professor at Cambridge University. In addition to these Irish Rhapsodies, he composed numerous symphonic works, choral anthems and motets, concertos, organ works and operas. 

Selkies, by Kari Cruver Medina, are shape-shifting women who come from the sea.  Featured in Celtic mythology, they are woven into mysterious stories of longing and hearbreak that involve feeling torn between land and sea.  

In traditional Celtic tales, a woman is found stranded on the beach with no memory of her past.  Welcomed into the surrounding community, she falls in love, marries, and often even has children.  But the woman is restless, disquieted, and never quite at home in this domestic world.  Drawn to the sea, her longing leads her time and again to the shore.  Often her identity, i.e. “skin” (a sealskin) is kept hidden away – a symbol of captivity.  At some point she is reunited with her skin and with a flash of insight comes to herself.  She is a Selkie, a seal-woman, born of the sea.  With this realization she is liberated and returns to her home beneath the waters.  

We begin with a moody scene.  A woman walks alone along the seashore, cradling a strange bundle to her chest. The waves speak to her, their undulating patterns calling out from the watery depths. The listener senses she is torn. There is turmoil as she is enveloped in the kinetic motion of the ocean weaving in and around her. But a call to freedom, represented by a joyous folk motif, awakens her understanding. She responds with delight. Tossing the bundle up and around her, we recognize a sealskin. It ripples in the wind and then effortlessly wraps and joins her body as she joyously slips down into the waves, with a flip of her tail, disappears beneath shimmering waters. *****

Get the scoop on some scrumptious gelato as you enjoy one of Paige’s newest compositions – Gelato Low.  This delicious three movement or three scoop Italian musical treat was composed for the gala closing concert of the 2025 National Flute Association Convention in Atlanta, GA.  As described by Paige – “When the convention program chair asked me to compose a piece to premiere during the convention, to be played by any low flutist who attended the convention, I immediately began thinking about possibilities.  One thing I know is that flutists like to eat ice cream or gelato, especially during conventions. I also knew there would be “a lot of low” flutes interested in this performance and “Gelato Low” was born.” Today we present the traditional flute choir setting of Gelato Low, with the full instrumentation of the flute family. 

The first movement, Gelato al Pistacchio, is a flirtatious Tarantella, that becomes a little nutty at the end.  Next come Gelato al Cioccolato Fondente, a smooth, dark chocolate treat inspired by the blues. The highly energetic and caffeinated third movement, Gelato al Caffè, begins with a running bass line using the musical notes C-A-F-F-E. As the movement progresses and the caffeine increases, the music gets a little more crazy and fun. Using contemporary techniques, the audience can hear the caffè (coffee) brewing.  Enjoy these sweet musical treats featuring “Ja Lotta Low” Flutes! Delizioso!

Our musical mission for our final piece, Symphonic Suite from Star Trek,  – To boldly go where no flute has gone before! This thrilling suite captures the adventures of space exploration with heroic themes and interstellar melodies. Inspired from the 2009 block buster Star Trek movie, the symphonic suite features three of the famous themes of this dramatic soundtrack – Enterprising Young Men – To Boldly Go – End Credits.

Today’s encore, Paige’s Celtic Contra Crush, was also composed for the gala closing concert of the 2025 National Flute Association Convention in Atlanta, GA. The premiere performance, directed by Paige, was an ensemble comprised entirely of  40 contrabass flutes. There was not a single piccolo, concert flute, alto flute or bass flute, Every flutist played a contrabass flute, a sub contrabass flute or a double contrabass flute.  Today, the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra presents the traditional flute choir setting with the full instrumentation of the flute family.  

Beginning with a strong musical “gaoth” or Irish wind, listeners are transported to the mystical Emeral Isle of Ireland. Just as the weather changes quickly in Ireland, the musical mood quickly shifts to energetic Irish dances of reels and jigs. Welcome to an Irish session! (an informal gathering of musicians of players and listeners)

Program notes written by Paige Dashner Long
*Excerpt written by Eugene Magalif
**Excerpt written by Jonathan Cohen
*** Excerpt written by Lisa LeMay
****Excerpt written by Phyllis Avidan Louke
***** Excerpt written by Kari Cruver Medina