British composer and flutist William Alwyn, perhaps best known for his film music, dedicated Naiades to flutist Christopher Hyde-Smith and harpist Marisa Robles, who premiered it at the 1971 Bath Festival. The title of the work refers to Greek mythological water-nymphs. The piece is a sectional work in one movement, alternating between flowing melodies that continually evolve into new musical ideas, and animated sections full of graceful and exciting chromatic passages for both instruments. Alwyn’s inspiration for the work was the view from his studio of the river Blyth: “tidal waters flanked by a broad expanse of reedy marshes, haunt of shrill seabirds. To wander there on a summer evening, when the reeds are a rustling sheet of gold and the water the colour of the ‘wine-dark’ sea, is to believe again in Pan and Syrinx, sense the presence of Undine, and hear the Naiades sporting in the shallows, hidden from mortal sight by the shrouding reeds.” (William Alywn)
Classical Music | Music for Flute
William Alwyn
Naiades: Fantasy-Sonata for Flute and Harp Play
Recorded on 05/01/2013, uploaded on 10/16/2013
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
British composer and flutist William Alwyn, perhaps best known for his film music, dedicated Naiades to flutist Christopher Hyde-Smith and harpist Marisa Robles, who premiered it at the 1971 Bath Festival. The title of the work refers to Greek mythological water-nymphs. The piece is a sectional work in one movement, alternating between flowing melodies that continually evolve into new musical ideas, and animated sections full of graceful and exciting chromatic passages for both instruments. Alwyn’s inspiration for the work was the view from his studio of the river Blyth: “tidal waters flanked by a broad expanse of reedy marshes, haunt of shrill seabirds. To wander there on a summer evening, when the reeds are a rustling sheet of gold and the water the colour of the ‘wine-dark’ sea, is to believe again in Pan and Syrinx, sense the presence of Undine, and hear the Naiades sporting in the shallows, hidden from mortal sight by the shrouding reeds.” (William Alywn)
Ellen Huntington, Flute
Lillian Lau, Harp
Performances by same musician(s)
Danse Lente, Op. 56b
Rondoletto No. 2 on A Favorite Air by Rossini
Sonata for Flute and Harp
Classical Music for the Internet Era™
Courtesy of International Music Foundation.