Featuring Flutist Cynthia Ellis and Harpist Michelle Temple, members of the Pacific Symphony, the "Arioso Duo" ascended us to heaven, without the dying part. :)
The first piece was "Haru no Umi" (春の海) by Michio Miyagi (宮城道雄) and arranged by Josef Molnar.
Heard in Japan around new year at every shopping mall, etc., this depicts the ocean in springtime.
From the ocean, we get on a boat, with "En Bateau La Flute De Pan" from Claude Debussy's Petit Suite.
This also connects with the first piece, using whole tone and pentatonic scales.
Sticking with impressionism, we move on the the last piece, "La flûte de Pan, Op.15" by Jules Mouquet.
- Pan et les Bergers (Pan and the Shepherds)
- Pan et les Oiseaux (Pan and the Birds)
- Pan et les Nymphes (Pan and the Nypmphs)
Some interesting facts I learned.
The first flute known was from about 40,000 years ago, and was made of bird bone.
It has since evolved to be made of precious metals.
Cynthia's flute has a 18K gold mouth piece, and a 19.5K gold body, and the valves are made of silver!
It has a B foot, which means it's about an inch longer than normal flutes.
The harp is another instrument that has been around for a long time in history.
The modern harp weighs around 80 lbs.
Playing it is very demanding on the fingers, and performers will often get calluses and blisters.
The lifespan of a harp is around 30 years, before the neck and sound board needs an overhaul due to the strong tension from the strings.
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