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John Harbison:
Duo for Flute and Piano
with other works by John Harbison
Fenwick Smith, flute
Randall Hodgkinson, piano
Archetype Records 60104. Recording engineer: Joel Gordon.
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![[Picture of disc cover]](Images/harbison.jpg)
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John Harbison's Duo narrowly escaped oblivion. I have no recollection how I came by my copy--it was the sort of manuscript reproduction, printed on continuous accordion-fold paper, that spells disaster should it fall off the music stand after an overzealous page-turn. The Duo had languished in my collection for years before I dusted it off, read through it with Randall Hodgkinson, and decided it would fit nicely on my 1987 Jordan Hall recital. I phoned John to let him know I was planning a performance of the piece, and to ask if he might contribute a program note. My inquiry was greeted by a long silence at the other end of the line. It turns out that he had not seen or heard the piece since composing it in Berlin in 1961; a flood in his basement had destroyed some early manuscripts, and he had given the Duo up for lost. He now recalled it only with difficulty--and was apprehensive about being represented by such an early effort. But when Randall Hodgkinson and I played the music for him, he was reassured--with the happy effect that the piece has since been published by Associated Music Publishers, and has entered the repertory of flutists from James Galway on down.
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