Stephenson, J :: Pandora's Waltz

Stephenson Music presents 'Pandora's Waltz' for flute and piano reduction by composer Jim Stephenson. 

Notes from the composer: "My days of knowing Bill Larsen stem back to when I first joined the Naples Philharmonic as a trumpeter in 1990. Bill was personnel manager of the nearby Southwest Florida Symphony in Ft. Myers, and would hire some of us from time to time to make the short drive north to do concerts with his orchestra. (Unfortunately, this practice was later eliminated due to a 'competing orchestra clause' in the Naples contract). However, I would still run into Bill from time to time, most notably when I wrote a piece for his wife, Beth, and also when I gave a talk at the Florida Music Educator's Conference one year. It was at these latter events that we noticed that we had similar tastes in styles of humor, and developed a fantastic friendship. So when Bill called me in Chicago (I had since moved) to inform me that there was a chance of having me compose a new work to celebrate his 25th anniversary with his orchestra, I was more than excited at the opportunity to do so.

"This piece is oftentimes interrupted by an insistent, yet quirky, waltz. On occasion it (the waltz) almost gets stuck, likea broken-record of bygone years, only to be relieved by a frenetic scherzo. On other occasions, it becomes an eerie and somewhat sinister waltz. Duets in slower sections with solo strings (in the orchestral version) remind us of the beautiful lyrical qualities of the flute as well, qualities I was eager to highlight in Bill's playing."