Sunday, July 24, 2016 – 3 p.m.
The opportunity for a concert tour of Hungary in 2006 was the catalyst for the formation of Morningstar Flute Ensemble. When her Hungarian friend Miklos (Mike) Bus, a great supporter of a local ensemble she played with, was willing to arrange such a venture, Charlotte Ellis invited a select group of flutist friends to participate – and Morningstar was born.
Since then, the Ensemble has given concerts in several states and recorded a CD of some of the world’s most beautiful and soothing music.
Morningstar’s 3 p.m. concert on Sunday, July 24, will begin with a beautiful arrangement by Mary Pope of Giulio Caccini’s “Ave Maria,” featuring a solo flute obbligato.
Also heard will be a lovely piece by Ann Holler of Bristol, TN, and the title track of Morningstar’s peaceful and relaxing CD, “Tranquility,” which will be available at the concert.
In addition to her arrangements of two works of Bach and Mozart, the concert will feature several of Charlotte’s original compositions, including “Ilse’s Suite,” composed in honor of her friend Ilse Krupp, whose life in Germany during and after World War II is portrayed in four movements of music and narrative. This music will be performed on instruments that may be unfamiliar to the average person. Not only does Morningstar use the commonly heard concert flute and piccolo, but they also play alto and bass flutes, which may be likened to the viola and cello in a string orchestra, as well as the 6-foot tall contrabass flute, an uncommon instrument whose sound is comparable to the bass viol or string bass.
The group derives its name from the occasions that Charlotte’s mother carried her very young daughter into the early morning darkness to view the morning star, memories that have remained vivid and special over the many intervening years.
Because the musicians live in different parts of the eastern U.S., music is distributed for individual work before they convene for group rehearsals. It is with eager anticipation that they look forward to their times of playing together.