Music by
DANIEL DORFF
 

April Whirlwind for Flute and Piano

 

Duration: c. 7'

DETAILS
PREMIERED by Gary Schocker, April 1998, Brooklyn, NY.
AVAILABLE from your favorite sheet music dealer, or direct from Presser.
RECORDED (private label) by Angela Massey and Vahan Sargsyan.
YOUTUBE of Lisa Hedley's recording

PROGRAM NOTES
In April 1997, I was having trouble starting a new commissioned orchestra work, with many sketches going nowhere.

One evening in April a different piece suddenly came out almost fully-formed; it was a musical whirlwind for flute and piano. Once this A Theme was in place, it led very naturally into a B Theme based on my earlier song "Tobetara" (setting a Japanese poem whose title means 'to be able to fly'), which happened to have motivic links to the new musical whirlwind, as well as a similar airborne image. Both themes were full of rising 4ths and pentatonic tunes. In a few days the whole April Whirlwind was in its final form.

Through my work at Theodore Presser Company,  I've had the privilege to be Gary Schocker's publisher. After finishing April Whirlwind, I decided to dedicate it to Gary out of respect for him both as a flutist and a composer; his effervescence and airborne virtuosity match the spirit of April Whirlwind.

REVIEWS
 "Great piece!! April Whirlwind has everything - lovely lyricism, a spontaneous spirit, and jazzy brilliance. I will look forward to sharing it with legions of students."
            – Jeanne Baxtresser, principal flute, NY Philharmonic, July 1998

"Written for Gary Schocker, this work is similar in style to Schocker's own programmatic compositions for flute and piano. Flowing scale patterns and frequent mood/tempo changes provide the atmosphere of April Whirlwind."
            – Flute Talk (Mary Karen Clardy), November 1999

"Delightful... an exuberant and joyful paean to Spring."
            – Sid Grolnic, Penn Sounds, Winter 1999
 

 

last updated May 8, 2026
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