Lughnasa

Performance notes

‘Lughnasa’ (pronounced Loo´ nessa) is a feast celebrated at harvest time in Celtic mythology. It is a feast of abundance (which you will be reminded of each time you perform it’s many notes...)

Prior to naming the piece, I was writing as inspired by J.S. Bach’s violin Prelude No. 12. I wanted to have it like a violin “fiddle” piece, and the celtic flavor showed up all on it’s own. Like many of my other solos, the harmony is built into the flute part. Therefore, take care not to emphasize the “constant” note within measures, since it will be heard by it’s repetition rather than volume. Instead, make the melody notes come forward, and highlight their different characteristics when they become conversational within the phrases.

In performance, I either play this solo flute, or flute with ethnic percussion. Because I used accompanying harmony on my recording of “Lughnasa”, I have included that bare-bones accompaniment part here, as well as chord names for those preferring lead sheets and adding to the music.

The harmony instruments I used on the recording are celtic harp and mandolin. If you want to perform it with the accompaniment, you can use either one of these, or substitute guitar or piano. Piano is last choice, since it lacks the inherent buoyancy that the other instruments offer, and the piece demands. I did not include a separate percussion part, since most percussionists I know prefer to learn the music by listening to the piece and picking up the changes, patterns, moods and parts from hearing rather than reading.

Above all, make your performance of Lughnasa celebratory and FUN!

--Rhonda Larson

July 2003