An Avaloch Divertimento

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Description

An Avaloch Divertimento was begun—in fact the first two movements were completed—at the Avaloch Farm Music Institute in New Hampshire. Avaloch or Abhlach, is from the old Irish word meaning, “place of the apple trees.” The sacred Isle of the Apple Trees, Avalon—where Arthur, King of the Britons, was taken to be healed of his dreadful wounds—takes its name from this ancient word. Avaloch Farm Music Institute (AFMI) in New Hampshire is also a magical place where chamber music groups come to work and create in an atmosphere free from the distractions of everyday life. In the summer of 2021 I had the pleasure and honor of being a resident of AFMI along with Areli Mendoza-Pannone, Robert Frazier, and Mark Evans as we work-shopped my song cycle, Quarry Songs. Areli, Bobby, and Mark had to go back to the real world half way through the residency, leaving me at AFMI to begin work on An Avaloch Divertimento.

The first movement is an Aubade, which are traditionally morning love songs—as opposed to evening love songs or serenades. In the seventeenth century aubades became associated with instrumental works depicting sunrises. It is this sense of the word that is used here, complete with a bird-song oboe cadenza.

Pippin takes its name from a variety of apple. While at AFMI I would take afternoon walks through the nearby apple orchard to beautiful Walker Pond. It was on one of these walks that I came up with the first draft of the tune used in the central fughetta of the movement. The word, “pippin” is also included in Carolyn Forché’s poem, The Museum of Stones, which I had set as the final movement of Quarry Songs.

The final movement, Amhrán, means “song” in Irish and is a simple song form with three interwoven themes that emulate the Irish Bodhran (frame drum), fiddle, and singer.

Many thanks to Board Chair, Alfred Tauber, Artistic Director, Deborah Sherr, and Operations Director, Hannah Landes and the whole AFMI staff for creating such a wonderful refuge for musicians to work, learn, and create.

Learn about Avaloch Farm Music Institute at www.avalochfarmmusic.org.