COMPOSER CYNTHIA FOLIO – OUR PERSONAL STORY
The first time we met was in Colorado when we were awaiting the final round as auditioners for the piccolo position of the Denver Symphony. While Cynthia doesn't remember this, I told her about the Piccolo Society and she was interested in getting information for her students at TCU. After she moved to Philadelphia, we were both flute freelancers in the city. I recall that we were the flutists for the summer annual Concerto Soloists Band Concerts at Morris Arboretum and we were both pregnant and nearing our due dates at one of these performances.
One thing was certain from knowing her previously: Cynthia’s strong piccolo performance background meant she knew the capabilities of the piccolo.
The inspiration for Cynthia’s composition came during a lunch meeting at a quaint restaurant on Germantown Avenue, a cobblestone road in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia. While we were surrounded by Philadelphia history, I thought to suggest a composition that honored famous Philadelphians. While Cynthia doesn’t always write programmatic music, she enjoyed the challenge. She thought each movement could be a “Portrait” of a famous Philadelphian. Planning this work was a real collaboration. I came up with the idea for a Persichetti movement and Betsy Ross, which Cynthia used as a springboard for her ideas for three other Philadelphia protraits: John Coltrane, Marian Anderson and Benjamin Franklin.
Just as the planning, ordering of movements and rehearsing were collaborations between composer and artist, so in a way is this series of articles. I am recasting Cynthia’s printed program notes for each movement and adding some of our personal correspondence during the creation of her composition. I’ll share research about each portrait artist, personal backstory and suggestions on how to interpret each movement. The first article focuses on the first movement, the Portrait of Philadelphia composer Vincent Persichetti. Look for John Coltrane, Marian Anderson, Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross in upcoming blogs.
Piccoloist Lois Herbine, composer Cynthia Folio and pianist Matthew Bengtson after the premiere the work on a concert devoted entirely to Folio’s compositions for flute, at the National Flute Association Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina on August 13, 2011.
On June 13, 2013, I presented a workshop at the International Piccolo Symposium on Cynthia Folio’s piccolo and piano composition, Philadelphia Portraits: A Spiritual Journey, which she composed for me in 2011.
Inverno Azul
NEW CHAMBER MUSIC FOR FLUTE
COMPOSED BY CYNTHIA FOLIO
© Copyright - Cynthia Folio / Bcm&d Records (888174789408)
Including Philadelphia Portraits: A Spiritual Journey