I have known Erik Nielsen for many years, as a community member, as a teacher for my kids in a couple of settings, and as a composer. I am thrilled and honored to be part of this world premiere of his lovely duo “Voices in the Wind.”
This piece really takes me back to my backpacking days, sometimes watching the mist rise over the mountain, sometimes flowing with a lilting breeze, sometimes the trees dancing to a stiff wind, and a bit of outright storminess. From the moment I received this piece I first knew I loved the title, then was thrilled with my own part, and the process of getting this in the groove with Liz has just been wonderful fun for me. I look forward to sharing it with you all!
Here are Erik’s notes about this piece:
“I am very excited to have Lisa Carlson and Elizabeth Reid premiere my “Voices in the Wind”, a set of six duets for flute and viola. When Lisa asked whether I could write her a piece, she mentioned that she played with Liz. I had never written a duo for these two instruments and they presented such an interesting combination that I went to work and ended up with a set of six short pieces, that range in length from around one minute to a little over four minutes. They involve lots of different moods and uses of the instruments (and in one case, voices!), ranging from the mysterious, through the lyrical, to the jazzy to the fast and furious. I had a lot of fun writing them, and the performers have worked very hard learning them, so I hope folks come and enjoy the premiere and the rest of their exciting program.”
Please do check out Erik’s web site at www.eriknielsenmusic.com. Here’s a bit of biographical info for your perusal:
Erik Nielsen has been composing for 30 years and his catalog includes works for chorus,
orchestra, wind ensemble, solo instruments, chamber music of many configurations and
electronic music. In 2002 he received the National Symphony Orchestra’s composition prize for
Vermont. The resulting commissioned work, Mr. Nielsen’s Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, was
premiered at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D. C. on March 20, 2004. He has also recently
received commissions from the Vermont All-State Music Festival, Chandler Center for the Arts
in Randolph, the Vermont Contemporary Music Ensemble and the Vermont Youth Orchestra. He
is former Composer-in Residence at East Hartford, Glastonbury, Rocky Hill and Simsbury High
Schools in Connecticut, as well as composition mentor with the Vermont Midi Project. He also
teaches music theory and composition with the Vermont Youth Orchestra. Mr. Nielsen lives in
Brookfield, Vermont.
