American composer and flautist Allison Loggins-Hull writes across all genres and performs in several too. She is known for creating unique sound worlds often influenced by Black American music and storytelling. Homeland was written during a time of unrest and social change in 2017 just after Hurricane Maria tore into Puerto Rico, the Syrian conflict began, and the US was experiencing political and social turmoil. ‘I began to think about the meaning of home in a crisis,’ says the composer. ‘What does home mean when the land has been destroyed? What does it mean when there’s been a political disaster or a human disaster? How does a person feel patriotic when they feel unwelcomed at the same time? Homeland is the musical interpretation and exploration of those questions.’ The piece has become much loved by flute players across the globe and, after hearing it, the Cleveland Orchestra offered Loggins-Hull a residency, thus catapulting her to fame.

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I Allegro moderato con molto rubato
II Adagio con molto rubato
III Allegro

Lowell Liebermann is one of the most performed and recorded American composers alive today. He has been described as a ‘new romantic’ and a ‘new tonalist’ – both terms he rejects, but his music is an expert blending of the traditional and the modern and it is often both tuneful and tonal.

His first huge success was with his Sonata for Flute and Piano which is now one of the most performed works for the instrument. This success led him to his long association and friendship with flute superstar Sir James Galway who commissioned a concerto from him in 1992. A second concerto followed in 2023 – Gareth gave the UK premiere of that work earlier this year.

Sonata for Solo Flute is a brand-new piece written in celebration of Galway. It was premiered in the US in September on the occasion of Sir James donating much of his personal archive to the Dayton C Miller collection at the Library of Congress.

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Steve Reich is one of the most famous and well-respected composers alive today. Born in New York and a former student of the Julliard School he began his musical life as a percussionist until his fascination with repeated rhythm led him towards composition. He is now known as the father of minimalist music.

Vermont Counterpoint was commissioned by flautist Ransom Wilson and dedicated to music philanthropist Betty Freeman. It is scored for twelve flutes of all shapes and sizes; eleven are pre-recorded and one live. The live part is written for flute, alto flute and piccolo and creates an ongoing counterpoint with the taped parts. Counterpoint is the art of combining two or more parts to create a harmonious whole and this is the perfect example of it. Unusually for Reich, nothing in this piece is repeated more than three times over the four continuous sections.

_{Note by Rachel Leach}