Molnar-Suhajda - Fern Flower for Flute Quartet - FQ109
Fern Flower for Flute Quartet by Alexandra Molnar-Suhajda, was commissioned by and dedicated to flutist Linda Bailey. From the composer: "The ‘fern flower’ is not a real flower at all, but a belief found in the folklore of many European countries. On Midsummer Eve (a date that corresponds quite closely with the Summer Solstice), people would take to the woods to find the elusive fern flower, the possession of which would grant the ability to understand the speech of animals, the ability to open all locks, luck in love, and sometimes even immense riches! But beware! Powerful magic or evil spirits often guard the flower, and the attainment of the flower’s gifts is sometimes thought to bring bad luck. My Fern Flower starts with a mysterious hymn, perhaps to invoke the protection of friendlier spirits, followed by a raucous trip through the woods in search of the prize."
It can be performed in two different configurations with the parts provided: a quartet of 3 C Flutes and Alto Flute, or a quartet of 3 E-flat Flutes and C Flute. Please note: The quartets must be the exact instrumentations listed and the ensemble cannot consist of a mix of C and E-flat flutes.
Instrumentation:
- 3 C Flutes
- Alto Flute
or
- 3 E-flat Flutes
- C Flute