McDowall , Cecilia - Eleven for Flute and Piano

Written during the troubles in Kosovo, Eleven means alive in Hungarian. This explains the work's distinctive passion and strength, and its affinity with various folk-style songs and improvisations.

"If you are looking for a contrast within a recital programme this would be a good place to start your search. It's a very atmospheric piece which draws on the middle-European folk song tradition that inspired Bartok, and it is dedicated to  the people of Kosovo who endured so much suffering in the Kosovo war. McDowall uses these folk melodies with grace notes and glissandi to evoke the sound of the cimbalon and the piano rumbles away ominously with the constant threat of danger. The outer melismatic sections frame a more rhythmically centered core, giving a strong underlying structure to complement the melodic fragmentation. This is such a good piece and would certainly be a perfect foil for all the other great flute pieces that you might choose to play. Be brave and give it a go!"

Chris Hankin