Arioso Lamentoso for Flute & Piano Duo

The Arioso Lamentoso is a Flute and Piano Duo. The arioso (employed in opera and oratorios as vocal music that is more melodic than recitative but lacking the formality of an aria) lamentoso is as the name indicates a melodic lament. The flute takes the role of the soprano while the piano provides the underlying harmonies and progressions.

The melody is based on a series of descending phrases and sequences. The initial 16 bar melodic exposition is repeated with expanded harmonic chordal support from the piano. The piece briefly modulates to the parallel key of A Major with an ascending melody before transitioning to F# minor with a florid series of descending octaves on the piano with sustained pedal notes in the flute. The initial melody then returns in A minor concluding with a German sixth cadence.

The piece was written from 01 February 2017 through 12 February 2018.

A piano reduction of the score is available for solo piano performance as Op. 42a.