Ibert - Flute Concerto

Katie Riley, Flute
Ming-Li Liu, Piano
Werner Recital Hall
October 14th, 2019
Recorded by Brandenburgh Productions
Jacques François Antoine Ibert (1890-1962) was a French composer whose compositional style has been described to be in a school of its own - as it does not follow rules of the contemporary school nor any other school. Ibert’s music can be classified as very French due to its flair, delightfulness, and whimsy. The legendary Flute Concerto is no exception to this. Ibert’s Flute Concerto, who was dedicated to Marcel Moyse, was written and premiered in 1934 by Marcel Moyse soloing and Phillipe Gaubert conducting the orchestra. The Concerto is composed of 3 contrasting movements.
A thunderous entrance by the accompaniment begins the wild ride of the first movement. The flute then enters in a sea of 16th notes that doesn’t seem to be interrupted until the movement ends. Even in the lyrical sections of this movement, there is a constant excitement and anticipation fluttering in the atmosphere. This movement can be described as restless and relentless, but there are also aspects of jazz found in the unusual intervals and chromaticism.
The Andante second movement contains many lush harmonies and colors. The beginning is reminiscent of the stillness of a cold sunny afternoon outside after a heavy snowstorm. The line builds and falls just as the wind would dust snowflakes off a leafless tree. Suddenly, a contrasting section is introduced by the accompaniment. This second section paints a much more conflicting picture compared to the previous tranquility. This section continues to build to a waltz-like section in unison with the flute and accompaniment. The movement closes with the same light and peaceful character it began with, ending on a D-flat harmonic.
The finale Allegro Scherzando opens with electrifying triplets in the accompaniment. This movement is jazzy in its nature - particularly in the use of alternating time signatures. There are 2 main themes in the third movement. The first section is characterized by a light character generated by fast triplets and a soft and playful dynamic with a few hairpin crescendos written in. The second section, introduced by a mini cadenza in the flute, is much more lyrical with melodic triplets and sextuplets. After the concluding ritardando of the middle section, the music returns to the first section again, this time written a half-step higher. The movement culminates with an exuberant cadenza in the flute line that utilizes fast double tonguing, flutter tonguing, and exciting octave leaps. The piece ends with an explosive exclamation!

[@johnnypooncy]

Amazing! That’s actually the first time I’ve heard this concerto all the way through

[@katieriley3270]

Thanks so much! :)

[@katieriley3270]

1st mvmt: 00:00
2nd mvmt: 4:47
3rd mvmt: 11:06

[@andrewhofmann]

omg that high f at the end. amazing. i wish i could get that high!

[@briancrowle6290]

Lovely! I thought the slow movement was especially beautiful. Thank you for this delightful video!

[@israelnoriega5981]

Bravissimo! Keep up your hard work!

[@user-eb9hp3zi8y]

😢 мне бы за такое поставили двойку…

[@sofiaescorihuela316]

Hello! Beautiful playing! How can I get that exact piano arrangement? Thanks!