Search - Buckley, Feeley, Dowdall :: In Winter Light

In Winter Light is a collaboration of talents from Eire (The Republic of Ireland)?contemporary composer John Buckley, guitarist John Feeley and flautist William Dowdall. Writes John Buckley: The recording comprises a selection of works for flute, alto flute and guitar dating from 1973 to 2004. The title is taken from an image in the epic poem Omeros by Derek Walcott, 1992 Nobel Prize of Literature recipient, and reflects the character of the music, much of which was written in the winter months over the past twenty years. My interest in writing for the flute goes back to student days and I have always been attracted to its possibilities of both extreme lyricism and extreme agility and virtuosity. These are qualities, which feature, in about equal measure, throughout my entire compositional output. The compositions for guitar have been more recent, starting with Guitar Sonata No. 1 written in 1989, followed by Guitar Sonata No. 2 in 1998. In these works and in the title piece In Winter Light I have attempted to capture something of the instrument?s unique, evocative and magical sound world. The title piece In Winter Light, brings flute?this time alto flute?and guitar together and in a way is a culmination of these two separate compositional journeys. The two instruments, with their dark sonorities but otherwise contrasting character, provide a wonderful compliment to each other.