Lament

The genesis of Lament was a recollection of an early Martha Graham dance entitled “Lamentation,” in which the dancer sits on the floor and stretches her elastic jersey costume about her body with her feet and hands. I was impressed not only by the sad, isolated, wrenching mood of the dance, but also by its focus and its exploration of a single idea. Concurrent with this memory was a desire to write a new piece for solo flute, and a realization of the great beauty of sound that exists in the alto flute. Lament has been choreographed by Ruth Meyer, former principal, American Ballet Theater. It has also been performed to great effect by Ginevra Petrucci on the flauto d’amore.