To Andalusia and beyond (flute + string quintet)

I wrote this piece at the end of 2016, after having been on tour in Andalusia and having the opportunity to get to know this beautiful region better. That same year, I had several conversations with the well-known flute player Wendela van Swol, who is based in Cordoba, who encouraged me to write a new piece for flute and piano. On arriving home, I was inspired by a melody that I found in an old book given to me by my godmother, which had belonged to her father, a talented amateur musician from Scotland who had collected music books on his travels around Europe. After that, I began to create sections for the piece, based on Andalusian musical forms such as the Rumba and the Soleá, as well as other free sections. I premiered this composition in concert in Valladolid in January 2017 together with the pianist Mario Rosado, who also edited the piano part. The following year, I created a version for soprano saxophone, together with my brother Alastair.

I composed this new version for flute and string quintet for Pilar Constancio and the Teatro Real’s string ensemble. The premiere took place at the Teatro Real in Madrid on 29^th of June 2025 and was performed by Pilar Constancio (flute), Rubén Mendoza and Julen Zelaia (violins), Josefa Lafarga (viola), Paula Brizuela (cello) and Marco Behtash (double bass).

(Katrina Penman)

Youtube (flauta i piano)