Theodore Presser, Carl Fischer, Boelke-Bomart/Schott/Mobart, Songs of Peer, and Warner-Chappell are publishers of Katherine's music.
Inspired in large part by the Grand Canyon of the American Southwest, Hoover envisioned an ancient time when natives first came across this geological wonder. For this vision, she sought to combine a Native flute with the modern silver flute, native music with “western” music, and bringing forth natural sounds through music notation. From Hoover's notes: “In my mind's eye I saw a band of native ancestors searching for a home, finding a canyon and moving in. In the third movement their calls echo across the canyon. There is a celebration, and the piece ends with dusk settling in, with chirps and murmurs, bats, and memories.
Composing Celebration, I have incorporated short quotes from famous flute pieces, some of which I studied under Joseph's tutelage and others that have become part of our heritage as flutists.
Make Music New York.
Performed at the National Flute Association's Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 14 of the same year by a large group of attendees, with movement choreographed by Zara Lawler.
I chose to write a substantial piece with more emphasis on melody than much of the music being written at that time, hence the name. The long first movement has two main ideas; one energetic and rhythmic, the other lyric. Most of the movement concerns the interweaving of these ideas, with two dream-like interpolations. The second movement is a melodious serenade. Each instrument has its own solo to sing, and then these are brought together toward the end of the movement. The third is a perpetual motion with overtones of jazz, odd sounds, and references to the first movement.
Michael Redmond, The Star Ledger (Newark)
Katherine Hoover is a leading contemporary composer by anyone's definition, and her Lyric Trio is a particularly attractive example of her work. This well-crafted trio, apparently inspired by the neo-classical tradition, is as remarkable for its accessibility as for its gracious solo writing.
A single movement, combining a slow and fast dance.
The flute and horn are a rather mismatched pair in many ways. To let their individual qualities sound, I began with a short soliloquy for each. This is followed by a slow dance which grows out of the soliloquies, and then a lively one, as the instruments (or characters, or thoughts) meet and interact.
Audio
SUMMER NIGHT is an apt description of what Katherine Hoover evokes in her lyrical, bucolic work that spotlights the horn and flute. It is engaging and thoroughly accessible.
Thomas Putnam, American Record Guide
This is a really good American piece, and its sound is open and pleasing.
My two short preludes are self-explanatory:Uptown(Flute and Marimba)is energetic and up-tempo, andOut of Town(Flute and Vibraphone)is pastoral, were commissioned by Lawler and Fadoul.
