Butterfly (2008, revised 2010) for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, percussion, and piano

Duration: 16 minutes

Recording: performance at the 2010 Meet the Composer concert by the CCM Chamber Players – Rodney Winther, conductor
I. Egg (attacca) II. Larva

III. Pupa (attacca) IV. Adult

*Contact the composer for information on purchasing a score and parts*

Program Notes:

Butterfly is composed in four movements, each titled after one of the life stages of a butterfly (Egg, Larva, Pupa, Adult). The first movement begins dark and swirling, eventually having bursts of tutti sound as I envision a caterpillar emerging from its egg. The second movement has continuous energy, like a caterpillar trying to eat and consume as many calories as possible to store energy for its transformative Pupa stage. The third movement is a passacaglia, with the initial statement in the cello and bass clarinet. This is passed around the ensemble with more elaborate textures developing over and around it. It then goes attacca into the final movement. Fluttery arpeggios in the winds and violin use the ostinato from the second movement to create a sparkling texture over the main motive statement in the marimba. The instruments continue to chase each other in intricate gestures, almost as if fluttering from flower to flower. Yet, like the fleeting life of a butterfly, the movement ends suddenly, like landing on a leaf and closing its wings for the last time.

– Angelique Poteat