Dora Stoutzker Hall, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff, Wales, UK
Flugel star Matthew Gray’s end of year recital at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, featuring a world premiere by Daniel for Flugelhorn & Piano.
About the piece: ”Seishin”
In a dimly lit room, the atmosphere hung heavy with anticipation. A lone flugelhorn rested on its stand, bathed in a soft, golden glow. The pianist, fingers poised above the keys, awaited the moment when the first note would break the silence.
As the piece unfolded, the piano initiated a delicate dance, a mysterious and captivating introduction marked by high-pitched repeated ostinato and clustered chords that echoed like whispers from another realm. The room became a canvas, painted with the intricate strokes of musical expression.
Soon, a groove emerged, grounding the ethereal soundscape, and the soloist stepped into the spotlight. The flugelhorn sang, weaving a variation of the piano's ostinato into a sweet melody that seemed to carry tales of distant memories. The music swelled, growing in intensity like an impending storm, until it reached a sorrowful climax that echoed with the weight of unspoken emotions.
But just as quickly as the storm had arisen, it subsided, and the music retreated to the original melodic material. The soloist, now playing with a reflective touch, extended the previous melodic line, as if contemplating the echoes of the emotional tempest that had passed.
As the music grew once more, it became bolder, the flugelhorn's notes reaching out with an ardent longing. The crescendo climaxed in a scream of adoration, a burst of passion that left the room vibrating with its intensity.
A brief interlude from the piano followed, a moment of respite before the soloist returned, this time entering timidly. The music began to grow again, gradually building upon the opening melodic material. The repeated 5-note pattern transformed into a steadier 6-note pulse, and the soloist's melodies danced more harmoniously, like beams of light piercing through the clouds.
Finally, the piece reached its grand finale. The flugelhorn soared, and the piano echoed in perfect harmony. The whispers of eternity had woven a tale, from the delicate beginnings to the stormy climax, the reflective interludes, and the triumphant resolution.
As the last note hung in the air, the room was left with a lingering sense of beauty and a story told through the language of music.
Duration: 5 Minutes
Difficulty: 5/6